One More Empty Nest

The Hornby Island eagle nest is now empty.

I've been watching this eagle pair for some time now, hoping against hope that they would hatch at least one, if not two eaglets.

It is a sorrow for me to see their empty nest and to finally know that new life is not going to break through, in full view on my computer monitor.

I think this empty nest is a powerful image.

For me, it symbolizes lost dreams.

Millions of people were watching this nesting pair, anxiously awaiting the births of their eaglets.

Now we are all somewhat bereft as we log on and watch the streaming video that reveals neither mother, nor father, nor incubating eggs. Instead we see the emptiness of the nest and all the dreams we once had of watching this new generation of bald eagles hatch and grow, simply slip away.

And yet, somehow, those dreams are not completely lost. If you listen closely, you can still hear eagle calls being carried on the winds. The nest may be empty, but the promise of future generations still echo through the air.

Life will go on.