I went home to my parents house last night for the weekend and we saw two of these baby eagles. My parents live on the lake and every spring and fall these gorgeous birds follow the migration of the other birds like geese, ducks, and coots. I was reminded that this was a for of literacy for two reasons. It is a kind of literacy for people who live out here because it is a regular occurrence out here that I do not see out in St. Paul. Also, the way that all animals live is a form of literacy a code or instinct that they follow to live. The smaller birds travel together from open water to open water on their way south and then back up north and the bigger "hunter" birds travel with them to ensure survival. As I look out of my parents window at these eagles soaring with such an air that you just cannot help but stop and watch. It is no mystery that they are out Nations bird and I am so lucky that I get to witness them with the change of the seasons.
Here's what I take away from your gorgeous photo, Katie. Your parents have a special kind of nature literacy that they use to gauge the seasons. When birds like the bald eagles or geese arrive, they can be sure it's a sign of spring. When they start to go, they know winter will arrive soon.
ReplyDeleteReading these signs (or codes as you so intelligently call them) is the oldest form of literacy, right? Think of our predecessors who used the moon, sun and stars to create calendars and to tell daily time. I see your conversation about birds and nature as the essence of what it means to read the world. Your parents and their neighbors on the lake share "a particular set of social practices" (bird watching) that someone not from the lake might misinterpret or miss altogether. In other words, they would be illiterate in the world of "nature reading".
I really like "illiterate in the world of nature reading". It is a different would, and I can agree that I am very illiterate in that. I am surprised you knew that it was a rare things to see this bird.
ReplyDeleteTo appreciate this bird too, because I think we don't or better yet, can't appreciate something as much if we are not literate in that area. I can tell from the picture a few things (it's a nice looking bird, etc.), but I am sure a "bird-expert" might find this picture more fascinating just due to their knowledge on the subject.
Just like art Katie, where I like the different types and paintings, I am not too sure I can truly appreciate and "read" them, when I don't know what goes into making it.