When Do The Eaglets Fly?

They spend 35 days from when the egg is laid to when they hatch. Then, it’s ten to twelve weeks in the nest before they take their first flight. Did you know that first flight is called fledging? I didn’t. I’m not sure what I thought fledging was. I guess I always thought it had to do with feathers or something.

Anyway, when they fledge for the first time, it is sometimes gradual. They may leave the nest, but stay in the tree. But, within a week the eaglet will leave the nest for good.

So, I guess it’s fifteen to seventeen weeks from birth to flight. Or is birth when they come out of their shell?

Anyway, an eagle in the wild can live twenty to thirty years. Its childhood, at least that childhood where it’s under control of its parents is a very, very short period of time.

Not sure what made me think about eaglets fledging the nest.

When I was nineteen years old, I was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My parents didn’t think I was ready to go yet. They were probably right, but I went anyway. It caused a bit of rift. But, missions are two years long. We got over it.

The point was, I made the decision at nineteen, that I was going to live my own life. Whatever mistakes my parents had made in raising me, were made with the best of intentions. They did the best they could. I needed to take it from here. Whatever I might accomplish, I couldn’t blame my parents.

I had a friend who came from a very similar background as I did. His parents were divorced when he was a kid. Mother went through a few divorces. it affected him. . .a lot. In fact, he was forty before he finally forgave his parents. He spent a lot of his life trying to resolve the issues that he had brought with him from childhood.

I got a call today. Someone, a twenty-something someone, asked for a favor. I agreed to help. The person didn’t follow up. The 20-something later ranted via text about how no one was helping. No one cared. No one would play the savior.

That 20-something didn’t want to fledge. The person wasn’t ready to fly on their own. But, by the time you are in your twenties, it’s time for eaglets to fly.

Rodney M Bliss is an author, columnist and IT Consultant. His blog updates every weekday. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife, thirteen children and grandchildren.

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