Sitting here waiting to go to the Dr. and watching the cams. I happen to check chat ,which I really shouldn't do but did anyway. I'm still surprised at the comments being made of how M15 was taught how to do this and how to do that. Not one person even thinks that M15 has any instincts at all that he had to be "taught " how to fish, how to bring food to the nest and how to build a nest. Do they really think that M15 made it this far and never knew how to fish before? Bringing food to the nest for Harriet is something that was done by instinct. Not from Harriet bringing in the water fowl the other day. She did to make it easier for her to eat it.She did this with Ozzie too. Was Ozzie being taught also?? Did everyone forget how she brought food to the nest for E6 and it wasn't showing M15 to bring it for her???? She brought a fish in during the summer and ate it by herself . She didn't wait to show M15 he was to do this for her down the road. Some ppl think that M15 watching Harriet take a bath was teaching him. Really?? M15 never took a bath all those years he was growing up?
M15 was a single "Guy" he didn't have anyone to take care of but himself. Stealing food is what Eagles do and when you're a single Eagle you fend for yourself. He had no need to build a nest so it took him a bit to get the hang of it. Does everyone think Ozzie and Harriet knew how right away? I'll bet that took a few years to get it down the way Ozzie did. He had his Eagle instinct to guide him in what he needed to do. Same with Harriet. M15 does too. No one seemed to think he needed to be shown/taught how to protect the nest, E6 and Harriet when he first came in. He just did it... INSTINCT !
He followed Harriet around because his instinct and hormones led him. He knew the territory and did his job patrolling it. He's from here not an Eagle on vacation and decided to stop and help the little woman with a child. He's from here ! He has watched Ozzie and Harriet and other pairs I'm sure. He knows the routine . Remember a stolen meal is an easier meal if not caught.
Cutting M15 short of his own is just wrong in MY mind and way of thinking. He's an Eagle . He knows the Eagle way and I wish ppl would stop and think about what they are saying.He's not a human being that needs to be "taught". He is an wild animal and has instincts on how to do things.
Again I'll say, Learning by emotions for me is not that way to learn. Learning by misleading information is not learning. To say you think or that Harriet is teaching him is to me saying you don't value M15 as a All knowing /instinctual Eagle. It tells me you're guessing that he doesn't know how to do this.
I have learned so much by sitting there watching their behavior. M15 never had to get a stick on the fly. What would he have need for it as a single Eagle? So it took him a couple of tries but he did do it. Putting the rails where we think they need to be is not His worry . He puts them where he thinks they need to be. He'll get better at it as the seasons come and go. The same with anything that has to do with Nesting season. He knows how ,it just won't be like you or I would want it . Again did you know everything there was to raising children when you had them ? I'll bet you had a lot of help with your first one... It will come to him in time. Harriet will show him by what she does... not teach him. The instinct is there just trust him to follow up on it .
I made the comment one time that Decorah Dad had to teach the new Mom how to sit on the eggs. Well my comment was corrected by the one that is leading you all to think that Harriet is teaching M15 that Dad did not teach her , he showed her by doing it. So read that sentence again and answer your own question of why is there a difference in the two situations??? Why is one "Teaching" and the other is "Showing" ? Hmmm I don't know do you?
So hopefully the next time you or someone wants to say Harriet is teaching M15 , think about it . She maybe showing him, not teaching him. He already knows , he just didn't have the need to do it when he was a single Eagle. And who knows maybe they do practice branch getting for some thing to do when they are young.I don't know.
Just like his mating attempts at first. It took a bit for him to realize that humping the branch wasn't getting him anywhere.Well for him it might have....lol It was much better to get Harriett than the branch.
I see M15 growing every day. Maturing into a very fine Male Eagle that hopeful one day here soon will be a Dad. He's already a great mate for Harriet. He was the first day he showed up.
So I hope the next time when someone says that Harriet is teaching M15 someone besides me will stick up for him and say " He already knows,He has his instincts that guide him."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/instinctual
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/instinctual
http://grammarist.com/usage/instinctive-instinctual/
:) ty
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading your posts and photos! Thank you for doing this!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading your posts and photos! Thank you for doing this!
ReplyDeletePerfect! We need to be reminded. It's hard to not put ourselves there.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! Well said, Dee.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! Well said, Dee.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments Dee! They get along just fine when we don't see them on the cams, don't they !
ReplyDeleteWell said Dee... I learn more everyday! Guess I need to "show" my husband how to empty the dishwasher, lol!!
ReplyDeleteAmen. And this is why I don't participate in chat. Facebook comments are bad enough. I just enjoy watching the eagles and learning from them. And I appreciate the photos from the folks on the ground and watching the cam. I learn more from the photographers than anyone, other than a google here or there :)
ReplyDeleteDee, thank you for this...I wholeheartedly agree!! I believe in M15..he is a very wise eagle, and is making a great mate for Harriet! I also know he will be a great Dad!! I think Harriet has made a great choice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dee.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. An eagle is an eagle and survives on instinct. Almost all of the live nest chat boards have gone completely bonkers with anthropomorphizing. I don't even bother chatting most of the time. Especially at SWFEC with the ridiculous delay for "mod approval".
ReplyDeleteWe each have our own way of loving the eagles and sharing. The diverse observations and remarks all combine to keep the experience fresh and thought-provoking. Please be gentle and open to others.
ReplyDeleteAren't we lucky we don't have cameras on our every move! Those poor eagles are being judged every second of the day! Well said Dee! Thank you as always for your most enlightening and honest commentaries! Just let Eagles be Eagles! ��
ReplyDeleteHi Joni. TY
DeleteHi Dee! My advice to you is to continue your work happily documenting this beautiful pair and avoid the chat/MODS/idiots as much as possible. I stopped documenting the Decorah Eagles altogether because chat people will bow and scrape to MODS who aren't on the ground and never will be and will turn people against you. I document my local residents (one pair had THREE!) and share with old Decorah friends only. I also moved on to hawks and Great Horned owls in my area. I'm an hour and a half from Decorah and haven't been there in almost 2 years. Those people soured me on the machine of idiocy that runs that circus. Thankfully you're grounded and intelligent. Have fun and stay away from chat..you have enough friends HERE to share your great photos and info. Great job as your heart is in it...not done for popularity! If you speak up to tell those people (esp MODS) they are wrong you will be black balled. Crazy, isn't it? Some eagle people are just vicious and hateful. I hope the people here stay with you and enjoy what you have to bring. Chat is bad. Dee is good LOLOLOL
ReplyDeleteJulie Thank You so much for your encouragement. I do enjoy watching them and try to give a different look at things instead of what a controlled chat wants everyone to know. I will keep everything you said in mind when I do write. Thanks again for the support . :)
DeleteI agree most of it is instinct!! Sure there is learning by watching but I would say that is gaining another perspective to try out or part of their mimicking aspect.
ReplyDeleteDee I am thrilled I found your photos and commentary as I don't get to stream the video much. I consider you, David and the others as the ground team. Thank you so much for sharing
So glad you found me Debbie..lol We all try to bring you and the rest the happens at the nest. :)
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