TWELVE MONTHS AGO, I WONDERED

摘要

Several years ago, I spent the day on a very enlightening field trip. It was late October on a lake in the high mountains of Northern California. I was accompanying a wildlife biologist and observed as he counted bald eagles for the local utility company. As was his intent, we saw every bald eagle known to inhabit the area. In fact, the biologist had names for each and could identify them by their markings or some form of habitual response. He described their natural patterns and preferences, from hunting and eating to mating and protecting their young. I became intensely interested as the biologist explained his theory of why the bald eagle is "the perfect symbol for America." He said it is "big, aggressive, graceful, but basically lazy." Of course, I had to know more, as his comment had shattered my image of this important symbol.