Cooperative Living May 2023 - 34

RURAL LIVING
Where Eagles Dare
Felicitous fanfare for our feathered friends
by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
running streams, in the middle of
a fairway. I haven't seen one again,
but just knowing they're there,
somewhere, gives me a thrill.
In the meantime, I will keep
I
t's May - the
month when there
are more birds in
Virginia than at any
other time. They
suddenly seem to
be swooping and
darting everywhere. They are finding
mates, I guess. And building nests.
I love to discover a bird's nest
somewhere around my yard or porches.
I watch them carefully. I look for their
lovely eggs. It's something that brings
me hope. And, I need plenty of hope
right now, although the reason shall
remain my own.
About two weeks ago, I had the
best bird experience of my life ... so far,
anyway. I was driving to take my walk
on the wooded road. (Around these
parts, you really must drive before you
can walk.) As I glanced over at the golf
course, there it was: A bald eagle!
Sitting majestically in the middle of a
fairway, surveying its domain. I slowed.
I nearly drove off the road. It was
an eagle!
I have never seen an eagle in person,
except for one that was in captivity at
the Wildlife Center of Virginia in
Waynesboro.
But, this eagle was no
one's captive. Instead, it was
captivating. I wanted to pull over and
just gaze at it, but I didn't want to draw
attention to the magnificent bird. Last
year, some low-life shot and killed two
bald eagles up near Bolar. It was an
outrage. Bird lovers offered up to
$4,000 as a reward for information
leading to the perpetrators. Nothing
came of it. I decided then and there
that if I ever did see an eagle, I'd keep
its whereabouts to myself.
Since more than one golf course
exists around here, no one knows
exactly where I saw this great bird. I
thought about him, or her, throughout
my walk. I watched the sky and the
fields, in case the eagle had taken flight
and " followed " me to my walking lane.
I investigated, and a friend told me
there are two nesting pairs of eagles
at a location that doesn't surprise me.
I won't tell you where that is, either.
Also, one pair has three eaglets in their
nest. My lack of information will help
ensure there is hope for these bald
eagles. I can attest, nothing gives me
more hope than sighting a bald eagle.
I keep my eyes peeled every day
for an eagle - in the tops of trees, by
a close watch on the azalea bushes
right off my front porch. The robins
seem to like it as a homesite. And, I
will be careful when I go out on the back
porch to the garbage can. For some
reason, a bird I can't properly identify
likes to build a mud-based nest in the
corner over the can, but she can be very
territorial. I have been dive-bombed
many times through the years.
And, by the way, if you're a fan of
wildlife, and want a wonderful day trip,
head to the Wildlife Center of Virginia
near Waynesboro. You will be amazed
at the great work the dedicated workers
and volunteers are doing with all sorts
of wildlife. (Don't expect them to let
you see the bear cubs, though. They're
off limits, no matter how much you
beg.) But, I did see some unusual things,
including a wayward gyrfalcon, the
largest of the falcons, usually found
much further north than Virginia.
I even got to pet a possum. Call or
check their website (wildlifecenter.org)
first, to make sure they're open and
welcoming wildlife-loving guests. 
To order a copy of Margo's " A Party of One, "
call 540-468-2147 Mon-Wed., 9-5,
or email therecorderoffice@gmail.com.
CL WHEREZIT?
Look for the CL logo, like the one above, in the pages of
this issue of Cooperative Living. Submit the page number
where you found it alongwith your name, email and phone
number to WherezIt, c/o Cooperative Living, P.O. Box 2340,
Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340 or go online at co-opliving.com
under " Contests. " Deadline isMay 20. Thewinnerwill
receive a $25Amazonemail gift card.
PHOTO COURTESY A&N ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
32 ● Cooperative Living ●
May 2023
co-opliving.com
http://www.wildlifecenter.org http://www.co-opliving.com http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living May 2023
