It’s become our thing to walk across the Ashokan Reservoir just before dusk to see our Bald Eagle.
When I say “our” Bald Eagle, I mean seeing the same eagle each time. This is because we’re on the eagle’s turf, and our internal clocks are in sync.
If you’ve never seen a Bald Eagle in the wild, it’s such a rush being in the presence of this powerful and majestic bird.
Like clockwork, the eagle flies in as we return from our hike, attentively watching us walk the span. Then, just as we are parallel, with the eagle in the same dead tree and us on the span, the eagle “allows” us to take a few photos before ruffling its feathers as if to say, “enough photos for now, human,” before flying off.
It happens every time. We’re not changing our internal clocks, nor does the eagle, ensuring we always meet.
And each time, it looks like it’s the same eagle. Once we get home and review our photos, it’s easy to see it’s the same eagle.
According to Science Daily, research suggests that some birds may know who their human friends are. They recognize people’s faces and differentiate between friends and potential foes. Since our paths cross daily, this incredible bird regards us as friends.
Sometimes when we’re walking, the Bald Eagle appears out of nowhere, flies over us, and lands on the reservoir beach below, off limits to humans to take a long drink.
It’s as if the eagle spots us from high in the sky and decides it’s show time, “time to get those inferior beings going.”
Before you laugh about that assumption, remember the term “eagle eyes.”
Eagles have exceptional vision especially designed for long-distance focus and clarity, thanks to both monocular and binocular vision. (Humans can’t do this!) This allows the eagle to use its eyes independently or together, depending on what it’s trying to see.
And while most humans have 20/20 vision, Mother Nature gave eagles an astounding 20/5 vision. That means that what looks sharp and clear at 5 feet is just as clear to an eagle from 20 feet away.
Bald Eagles can also see a greater range of color than humans and can see ultraviolet light, which helps them when hunting to see the UV-absorbent urine of their prey.
So it’s possible the eagle spots us and decides to swoop down, knowing we’ll worship it for as long as it decides to grace our presence as fodder for our SM accounts. Is a Friendsgiving in our future? Maybe, if we bring the trout.
Kidding aside, we’re on the same internal clock as this fabulous eagle. But it’s fun to think this incredible bird sees us as friends and visits us on our hikes.
We’re inspired by birds, nature, and wildlife we encounter outdoors, like magnificent Bald Eagles. So please visit our shop for holiday gift ideas. And most important, we donate 25% to bird and wildlife advocacy groups to support their important work!