Annie returned home from Alaska for a visit right before we left on our voyage. She went for a run one day and came home with a photo she had taken near our house. It was of a bald eagle perched high in a tree. Seeing an eagle in the wild is an exciting event, and knowing it was so close to our home was a thrill. I’m sure for Annie it was not that big of a deal as eagles are commonplace in Alaska; I suspect she took the photo mainly for my benefit. 

We don’t get to see many eagles at home so I was delighted to discover that they also thrive along the river system in middle America. Every morning and evening we sight them flying next to or over our boat. I grab the binoculars for a closer look, and I’m thrilled each time. Peter is convinced these eagles are the same ones every day and that they have been guiding us along. I’m not so sure about that, but it is fun to imagine these beautiful creatures keeping an eye out for us as we learn the ways of the rivers. 

Such majestic birds with their stark, white heads accented against their pitch-black bodies and strong yellow feet and talons are an ongoing source of renewed enthusiasm as we motor downriver for seemingly endless hours. When they soar above us, their white tail feathers show making them easy to follow along the darker treeline. We have watched them flying alongside us, balanced on scraggled branches, and even perched atop a tree with wings spread looking like they are posing for an official portrait. We have also seen them waddling along the shoreline taking an occasional drink of water. Then they become caricatures of themselves with their big, clumsy, yellow feet picking their way along the muddy shore. 

One late afternoon, we were considering a wide bend in the river as an anchorage for the night. As we motored in slowly while reviewing the charts, our eagles swooped around and low in front of us and landed in the water off our bow.  We were a bit befuddled, not knowing that eagles could float on the water like seagulls. A quick look through the binoculars made the situation clear. Our river guides, standing in mere inches of water, were clearly concerned about our choice of an anchorage. We thanked them as we sharply threw the helm over to find deeper and safer waters for the night. 

In these fast-flowing and shifting rivers, we do have other means to determine the depth of the water and the proper spot to drop our anchor. We don’t typically consider the experience and wisdom of native animals. Maybe we should. If we take the time and effort to look and listen, this river environment has much to teach us.