Ancient One
does flight ease
soul’s aching loss of life-mate
memories of fledglings flown into four winds
almost forgotten taste of first fish ever caught
morning light on so many hatchlings pipping shells
I would ask you to stop awhile
pause and share with me your history
but I will not
for that would allow yesterday to tether your dreams
here to my human ground –
cruel that way I pray never to be
fly and stay free, solitary Ancient One
even in the heat of the early morning
this male orchard oriole dashed about
from the very top of the highest pine tree
to the point of a small sycamore
to the shadows of the oaks
singing his song of territory
Mom Kate is plainly telling Ice that he better mind his eagle manners when he gets into the nest.
Her scowl and body posture are easy to see.
I think both parents are tired of hearing Ice screaming for food – you can hear him all over the cove.
I don’t know that he has made any effort to fish.
He made quick work of the fish Kate had just brought into the nest.
And then Ice proceeded to fly to where Kate was perched and landed on the same limb and began his begging all over again.
Kate left in a hurry.
Size is not always the deciding factor – especially in a territory dispute.
Kate is being escorted out of the established territory of the smaller female above her.
The mature adults will often choose a threat and escort behavior over outright aggression.
Unlike the 3 year old Brassy who wants a fight and looks for it.
It is getting harder to locate the fledglings as they daily venture further away from the nest.
I can always find them if I am there when a parent brings a fish to the nest.
The determined look on Ice’s face is there because he has seen Kate heading for the nest with a fish.
All he can think about is the food and he wants his share.
VIDEO at http://youtu.be/HzB5oGvk9_I
NOTE: wind was gusty and the 2nd video clip shows it!
First Ice brings a stick to the nest – gets it hung up on the rim and he is puzzled.
Then Wynd brings a fat stick to the nest. Gets it stuck on her foot.
Loses interest in the stick and bounces out of the nest and onto the parent’s big roost.
Only she misjudges the distance and ends up right at the end of the limb and can’t figure out what to do with her feet.
Quite a dance she does. She finally bails out.
I wonder if carrying the sticks is good practice for carrying wet slippery fish once the fledglings begin to fish for themselves.
In these photos: 1st is Ice in the very dark early morning; 2nd is Wynd landing with her right foot on the stick and her left foot on the roost.
doc ellen's journey 