By Stephen C. Schultz
Editors note: Both pictures of the eagles I took with my phone. The first one was taken in my backyard. The second was taken on my way to Oxbow Academy. I have digitally enhanced each picture using AI for the express purpose of placing them in this article on my blog.
There is something fascinating about the eagle. For centuries, it has represented power, integrity, courage and freedom. Its remarkable eyesight, ability to soar to great heights, and confidence in navigating its surroundings have made it a symbol of strength and independence.
The eagle seems to occupy a world of its own. It can rise above the landscape, survey what lies beneath, and choose when and where to act. It is a bird that commands attention without necessarily demanding it.
Perhaps that is why we are so drawn to the eagle. The characteristics we associate with this magnificent bird are qualities many of us would like to develop in our own lives. A closer look at the eagle offers some interesting lessons.
Vision
One of the eagle's most remarkable characteristics is its eyesight. Its visual acuity is extraordinary, allowing it to locate prey from considerable distances while soaring or perched high above the ground.
But there is an interesting distinction between a young eagle and a mature one. Although the ability to see is present early in life, learning to hunt successfully takes practice. Young eagles spend time observing their parents and developing their hunting skills through experience, experimentation and sometimes failure. Eventually, they become remarkably effective at identifying what they are looking for and pursuing it.
There is a lesson here for us.
Having vision is not necessarily the same as knowing how to use it. We may have goals, aspirations and even a fairly good idea of what we want out of life. But developing the ability to recognize opportunities, distinguish what is worthwhile from what is distracting, and make decisions that move us in the right direction takes experience.
Sometimes we pursue something that looks promising, only to discover it wasn't what we thought it was. Other times, we become distracted by things that have little to do with where we want to go.
Vision requires more than eyesight. It requires learning, experience and the willingness to continually refine what we see.
Integrity
Eagles are large and powerful birds, but they are not immune to being challenged by smaller birds. Smaller birds will sometimes chase and harass an eagle, particularly when they perceive a threat to their nests or young. This behavior is known as mobbing.
The eagle may simply continue on its way, seemingly uninterested in engaging with the smaller birds.
We can draw an interesting comparison.
There is a difference between having strength and feeling the need to demonstrate it at every opportunity. People who are confident in who they are generally have less need to intimidate others, win every disagreement or respond to every challenge.
Integrity means understanding that our character does not depend on proving ourselves to everyone we encounter. It means knowing when to stand our ground and when to let something go.
We don't have to make someone else feel small to establish our own worth. We don't have to respond to every criticism or enter every argument.
Sometimes the greatest demonstration of strength is having enough confidence to simply move on.
Courage
The bald eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in North America. With a wingspan that can reach eight feet and a weight that can approach fourteen pounds, it is an impressive presence.
Yet, there was a time when this magnificent bird was in serious danger of disappearing from much of the United States.
During the twentieth century, bald eagle populations declined dramatically. Habitat destruction, illegal shooting and, particularly, the widespread use of the pesticide DDT contributed to the decline. By 1963, only about 417 nesting pairs remained in the lower 48 states.
The eagle's recovery is one of the great conservation success stories in American history. After receiving federal protection and benefiting from conservation efforts and the eventual ban on DDT, its population began to recover. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal endangered and threatened species list in the lower 48 states.
Think about that for a moment.
A bird that once seemed destined to disappear made a remarkable comeback. Its survival required more than natural strength. It required changes in its environment, protection and the opportunity to recover.
We sometimes think of courage as the absence of fear or the ability to overcome every obstacle through determination alone. But the eagle's story reminds us that resilience is not always an individual accomplishment. Sometimes survival requires help, protection, adaptation and the willingness to keep going when circumstances are difficult.
We all encounter periods when our circumstances threaten to limit our potential. We may experience setbacks, disappointments or situations that seem beyond our control.
Courage is not necessarily about never struggling. It is about finding a way forward, recognizing when we need help and refusing to believe that our present circumstances must define our future.
Freedom
The eagle has long been associated with freedom. Its ability to soar high above the landscape, glide on rising currents of air and travel across vast distances gives us a powerful image of independence.
There is something appealing about the thought of moving through life without unnecessary restrictions, having the ability to make our own decisions and choosing our own direction.
But freedom is more than simply having no one telling us what to do.
True freedom also involves having the skills, confidence and judgment to make good choices. It means accepting responsibility for those choices and understanding that our decisions have consequences.
We can have unlimited options and still feel confined by our fears, habits, expectations or unwillingness to change. Conversely, we can face real limitations and still find meaningful ways to exercise independence and make choices.
The eagle's flight reminds us of something worth considering. We all want the freedom to pursue our interests, develop our abilities and discover what we are capable of accomplishing. But freedom becomes most meaningful when it is accompanied by the wisdom to use it well.
Perspective
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of the eagle's ability to soar is the perspective it gains.
From high above the ground, the eagle can survey a much larger landscape. It can locate potential food sources, recognize obstacles and assess its surroundings before deciding where to go next.
It has the advantage of seeing more than what is immediately in front of it.
We sometimes lose that advantage in our own lives.
When we become caught up in a difficult situation, our attention tends to narrow. We concentrate on the immediate problem, the disappointment, the disagreement or the obstacle directly in front of us. We may become so focused on what is happening at ground level that we fail to consider the larger picture.
Perspective allows us to step back.
It gives us an opportunity to reevaluate our circumstances, consider alternatives and recognize possibilities that may not have been apparent when we were caught up in the moment.
Sometimes we need to change our position before we can change our direction. We need to look at a situation from another angle, consider someone else's experience or recognize that what seems like an insurmountable obstacle today may look very different tomorrow.
Perspective doesn't necessarily change our circumstances, but it can change how we understand and respond to them.
The View From Above
The eagle represents many of the qualities we admire and often aspire to develop. Vision allows us to recognize opportunities and pursue meaningful goals. Integrity gives us the confidence to stand on our principles without constantly having to prove ourselves. Courage helps us endure adversity and find a way forward. Freedom gives us the opportunity to make choices and determine our direction. Perspective allows us to step back, see the bigger picture and make wiser decisions.
Perhaps the greatest lesson is that these characteristics are not independent of one another. They work together.
Vision without perspective can lead us in the wrong direction. Freedom without responsibility can become recklessness. Courage without integrity can become arrogance. And strength without confidence can become an endless need to prove ourselves.
We all have opportunities to develop these qualities. It takes experience to improve our vision, humility to recognize when we need a different perspective, and confidence to understand that we don't have to respond to every challenge.
The eagle doesn't spend its life looking down at the ground beneath its feet. It has the ability to rise above its immediate surroundings and see what lies ahead.
Maybe we could all benefit from doing a little more of that.
Sometimes, before deciding where to go next, we simply need to gain a better view of where we are.
Sources and Further Reading
The following resources provide additional information about the bald eagle, its remarkable characteristics, and its recovery from near extinction.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Bald Eagle
Information about the eagle's physical characteristics, habitat, feeding behavior, and conservation history.U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Eagle Management
An overview of the threats that contributed to the eagle's decline and the conservation efforts that helped restore its population.U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Removing the Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species List
The official 2007 announcement and documentation of the bald eagle's recovery in the lower 48 states.Smithsonian National Zoo: Bald Eagle
Additional information about the eagle's physical development, size, habitat and natural history.
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