Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
It’s easy to understand why the Bible writers used the eagle as a figure of speech to indicate speed, endurance, strength, and power. The Founding Fathers must have been impressed with these same qualities and opted to overlook its not so admirable traits, and in so doing chose to make the Bald Eagle our national emblem. At least on one level it was a good choice, for it is the only eagle unique to North America. On the other hand, Hollywood covers what might be seen as less than manly by substituting the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk to replace the rather tweety-bird sound offered up by the eagle.
But back to reality and some deserved superlatives that fit this species. It has an eye roughly the size of a human’s yet its vision is at least four times sharper than ours. Each year they add new material to their nest which resulted in one that was ten feet wide and twenty feet deep. Such a nest could weigh more than two tons making it the largest nest built in a tree ever recorded for any animal species. One was recorded flying with the fawn of a mule deer weighing fifteen pounds. This would qualify it for carrying the heaviest flight load of any flying bird. Of course, this is unusual, and they are generally dependent upon fish to supply the majority of their food intake. In Washington State, they must consume 1.078 pounds of fish each day in order to survive.
While there are numerous scriptures that allude to the prowess of the eagle, none is more encouraging that that penned by Isaiah: “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (40:31 NIV) Words that are especially encouraging when the walk seems long and the muscles feel tired. Hope in the Lord is a well-placed hope.