'Tis the season for flying lessons

©2014 Lydia Hinshaw

Looking up to a role model

Parent observes offspring's approach

 HOLLY HILL, FL -- Last winter, we often observed and photographed an eagle family that nests in a park in the small town that adjoins our own.  There were three eaglets in 2013, and a filmmaker was there nearly every day working on a documentary.  It was quite the local news story.

 This year we've continued to watch the eagles, but it's been a been-there, done-that experience.  There are two eaglets this time around, and although we'd visited the park at least weekly with our binoculars, but we hadn't taken a single picture until Sunday.

 The youngsters can fly now, and one parent or other (can't tell which unless I see mom and dad together) was supervising practice on a lovely Sunday morning.  One at a time, each youngster would set out, fly a circle or two above the city water plant next door, land on the ground or another tree for a rest, and finally return to the dead tree where the adult waited.

 It was definitely time to get the camera and update the blog.