Coming Full Circle

"The Circle of Life" I guess you'd call it. I'm not posting this for the photo quality, obviously, as I had only my Sony H2 with me yesterday, but it is an interesting story I think.

Back in early November, it was archery season for deer in Pennsylvania. In a field near one of my favorite little duck ponds, just 20 or 30 feet from the road, I saw a doe lying in the grass one day. Upon further inspection, much to my dismay it had an arrow sticking out of its back. I posted it here (I'm not sure I should have now) under the title, "Death Bed". The site was pretty bothersome to me, and I mostly stayed away from that area since. Immediately after, I called the PA Game Commission several times. I was under the assumption from a converation with them and messages, that they were going to remove the carcass and check out the situation (whether it could have been shot from the road or some other illegal activity).

This past Sunday morning, a shooting buddy and I took a ride down that road, and saw two red-tailed hawks in the area of that now snow-covered field, but they didn't stay around long. Later on Sunday, word got to me that there was a Bald Eagle somewhere in the general area feeding on a deer carcass. Eagles are still very rare in this part of the state, but on the rise, so I thought it interesting but didn't pursue it any further that day. I guess the thought of it didn't sound too appealing to me, a non-hunter, etc. And I never connected the dots.

But yesterday afternoon on my way to a friend's place, I took a ride on that road to see if I could spot the hawks in the barren trees, maybe ride around and see if I could spot an eagle too. Sure enough, I get to that same field where I originally found the fatally wounded doe and there was a big eagle perched in a tree, not more than 20 yards from my vehicle.

As I tried to quietly get out (right!!) with my Sony in hand, the eagle took off, circled back and landed in a tree past the pond. Then it took off and flew back toward me. It was then I looked down, and saw the long-dead deer now exposed, still lying in the same spot in the same field since November.

So here was something that was so upsetting at first, now became so uplifting to me, especially in the middle of a dreary winter. I got a few decent photos of the eagle... and was happy to know that this deer was not going to waste after all... a long story, but one I wanted to tell. Thanks!