Signs of Hope and Promise

As this never-ending winter continues to worm its way into spring, I also continue to look for signs that fulfill my hopes and Mother Nature's promise that spring will, indeed, come. So it was with great joy that I received a message on my Facebook page last week the my beloved Decorah Eagles had once more brought forth new life ... three perfect, beautiful little eaglets!

If you have been following my blog for the last 5 years or so, you know all about the Decorah Eagles, but for those of you who are new here, I'll briefly share the story again. The Decorah Eagles are a magnificent pair of bald eagles who reside high up in a tree on the grounds of a working farm and fish hatchery in Decorah, Iowa. They are part of a group known as The Raptor Project, an organization dedicated to the protection of these beautiful creatures, as well as educating the public about their lives and the challenges to keep them from becoming endangered. Cameras have been set up to cover the yearly return of the parents to the birthing nest, where they rebuild, repair and ready the nest, through the laying of the eggs, then the patient waiting for the first eggs to hatch. You'd be amazed how many thousands of expectant adopted aunts and uncles there are out there, checking in every day for weeks until the first little fuzzy head pops up. I have been following this particular pair since 2008. Together they have brought forth 31 babies. Sadly, not all of them have survived. Several have been the victims of exposed high power lines and switches. However, because this pair of eagles have been loved and adopted by thousands of people around the world, their outrage was heard at the state capital where changes have been implemented to mandate safety procedures to ensure this never happens again. A few of the offspring, once they became air-borne, were outfitted with tracking systems so that we can follow their travels throughout the years.

Witnessing the birth of these little bundles of joy fills me with reassurance that the promises of spring, of renewal and rebirth, are true, and that no matter how long it takes, with a little patience and a lot of faith, the trees will bud, the daffodils and tulips will spring forth, and the animal kingdom will bring forth the newest members of the next generation. Life will go on in spite of what we humans continue to do to interfere with the natural order of things. The eagles know better, however, and thank God for that. They are not only the symbols of courage and freedom for our country, but also the symbols of hope and the promise that spring will, indeed, come again.

To learn more about the Decorah Eagles, and the Raptor Project, log on to : https://ustream.tv/decoraheagles, or you can go to YouTube and type in Decorah Eagles for 24 hour live feeds of the happy family and the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

And so it is.