Gifts and Curses
Nested in the oldest pine tree 🌲 along the river, two siblings were born of equal status and stature. Hatched from the same egg 🥚, these eagle siblings did everything together their entire lives, from fledging to fishing to defending their shared territory. A beginning so connected was destined to be tested by fate.
As they grew, two particular things stood out that differentiated the pair. One had remarkable vision 👁️; he could spot schools of fish 🐟 from far and deep below the water’s surface. The other was an exceptional fisherwoman 🎣, sometimes catching 2-3 fish in one dive. By the aid of his vision, they’d follow the fish to the shallows for her to launch her air attack, catching enough for both to share. Their strength and weaknesses in creating a strong symbiotic ☯️ relationship between the two.
As fate would have it, a twist 🔀 was destined to happen. For these two, it manifested in a petty argument that escalated quickly to the point that the pair vowed never to speak again 🙊. The debate sparked when the pair casually disagreed on what should be named the pair’s favorite fish. Common sense would dictate that they’d agree to disagree and accept that they favored different fish. Things evolved quickly, primarily because this was their first time disagreeing and they didn’t know how to feel or communicate 🗣️ their emotions without shouting and clawing at each other. Unfortunately for them, vowing never to speak again also meant fishing together was no longer an option.
Just a few moments ago ⏰ , they were on their way to eat as much fish as they liked, but now they were faced with the same dilemma. Both enjoyed an abundance of fish their entire lives, so they weren’t familiar with any other food source. Knowing they couldn’t survive by scavenging shoreline sushi 🍣 alone, they both unknowingly took different routes to the same place, the waterfall.
The cascading waterfall was one of their favorite places to visit for the perfect bath 🛁. The constant flowing current through the small pools helped wash their feathers as they dipped and plunged in nature’s jacuzzi. Fishing never crossed their mind here because the white waters 🌊 and small pools made it impossible to see or dive for the fast-moving fish that stayed around the waterfall. They’d quickly swim in and out of the small pools before the eagles could notice. However, the pair did enjoy a good laugh 😆 at the occasional tumbling fish spat from the waterfall. The high water pressure from fast-flowing water essentially ejected slow-swimming fish from the top of the falls, sending them flapping uncontrollably through the air, crashing and bouncing into rocks as they bounced their way to the bottom.
They took their own routes but arrived at nearly the same time. Pretending to stop for a quick bird bath, they splashed for a bit before taking separate perches along the waterfall to clean and preen their feathers 🪶. The first fish came flying sooner than expected, causing them to flinch 😳 and nearly reveal their true intentions. Remembering to relax, they loosened up but remained alert for the next fish. But the next one didn’t come for the rest of that day, so two old best friends sat silently 🤐in a place they both once enjoyed to be.
Morning came, and so did two hungry bellies 🤤. Eager to eat and prove themselves independent, they openly postured, waiting for the first fish of the day to go airborne 🐟 and become the morning's breakfast. A flash of light beneath the surface sent both birds airborne in anticipation of a flying fish, but it was just a plastic bag… They circled for a bit, still ignoring 😒 the other’s existence, before returning to their perches for a stomach-grumbling wait.
Another full day passed with no success. As you may imagine, this was difficult for them to accept, and it seemed to be a never-ending hardship that would define their fate. Fishing that was once easy and fun was now a competition for survival 💪. By the third day, they were driven by hunger and no longer holding back. Skirmishes and mid-air clashes caused them to miss or drop very fish their talons touched. Refusing to speak 🚫🗣️, things became more and more violent between the pair. Until.
To be continued…
Written by Donte Hunter
What do you think happened next?
12/2/24
Conowingo Dam, MD
ISO200 F4 1/2500
#wildlifephotography #wildstories #baldeagle #birdsofprey #birds #birdsofinstagram #storytelling #sonyalpha #sonyphotography #wisdom #trials #siblings #canon #nikonphotography #eagle #thephotoboss