Eagle Eye
Bald Eagle
“The eyesight for an eagle is what thought is to a man.”
— Dejan Stojanovic, The Creator
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Most of my paintings in this series so far have focused on the eye. What more fitting image to include than the Bald Eagle, whose eye is so large in relation to its size that it fills most of its skull! As I don glasses to paint, the bald eagle can see a rabbit three miles away. What a thought. Can you imagine having 20/4 vision? To see clearly at 20 feet what we can see at four. Wow. We can sometimes see bald eagles overhead in Tumbler Ridge, and along the back roads as we travel when camping.
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The first place I remember seeing Bald Eagles in my youth was a trip to Brackendale Provincial Park, near Squamish BC. These huge birds were nested on the very top of the tallest trees, and were so spectacular that I was captivated. There very presence was both inspiring and slightly terrifying, with a wing span of up to 7.5 feet and fierce beaks and claws that can rip, I will never forget the sight of so many eagles in one place.
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Brackendale Provincial Park was home to the world record count of 3769 eagles in 1994, and I am sure that there were over 50 eagles in the area we visited back in my youth, before I met my husband - who's photograph I have used as inspiration for this painting - and before I moved to Tumbler Ridge.
Eagles mate for life and live from 20 to 30 years. They court high in the sky and lock talons with each other, tumbling towards the earth to test each other's fitness. I am glad that was not my husband's courtship plan! Our courtship fitness adventures often resulted in me needing his support as I limped down mountain trails locked onto his arm so I would not go sliding or falling down to the earth below. That date, 1994, was when Trent and I were married - for life - just like the eagles. It's been just under 30 years now. And you know? I think I am ok being a less-fit human, because I've got lots of life left I want to live.
And maybe, one day, we'll visit Brackendale together.
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“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
— Isaiah 40:31
