The eagles and the old tree on the Delaware

Lynn Guiser
Posted 8/21/12

An eagle pair chose an old, dying tree to make their nest and have a family. It’s pretty tall, and without a speck of green—mostly bare of long or thick branches, too. Despite its older looks, …

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The eagles and the old tree on the Delaware

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An eagle pair chose an old, dying tree to make their nest and have a family. It’s pretty tall, and without a speck of green—mostly bare of long or thick branches, too. Despite its older looks, this tree stands proud, independent, away from all others in the nearby forest. To me, it’s decidedly quite a reliable type, by the mere fact that one of the most magnificent raptors chose to nest and raise babies in its treetop for at least the past three years.

Why would the eagles choose an old dying tree, I asked myself? Though it’s bare, this particular tree, standing above a red barn, has easy, wide access and an amazing panoramic view of her great majesty, the Delaware River. It’s a marvelous introduction for any newcomers—including baby eagles—to Old Lady River, and her assumedly delicious food supply.

The birds can clearly view north, south, east and west perched in this nest. No trees or structures to block views. This bare tree leaves the raptors safe from climbing predators, too, as one would have to fly to get to their home. The perching options are so minimal that other birds cannot easily approach to harm the eggs or babies, without being seen. Really, best of all, though, the nest is prime river front property!

And, just think, all by itself, the forgotten tree withstood river thunderstorms and squalls, hurricanes and nor’easters without support from the forest cluster. Now, like a crown, the eagles in their enormous nest show off the barren, bold tree, proving its royalty and just how strong it really is.

An eagle feeding its baby is often seen in the nest, in plain view of passing motorists during the summer. I am not the only one who stops to take photographs. One might think the elderly tree is honored to host an eagle family, maybe feeling a renewed purpose in life. We can admire not only the nest, and the wise choice the eagles made, but also the wonderfully old and strong tree, and how well it is doing with its life. It is an everyday type of charm on the Delaware.

[Lynn Guiser is a resident of Damascus, PA.]

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