What's the old saying? Birds of a feather must flock together.Not if we're talking bald eagles and Baltimore Orioles.
A pair of eagles that had built a nest in a light tower at the Orioles' new spring training site in Sarasota were evicted Tuesday in a two-prong assault. As reported by the Herald-Tribune, wildlife rehabilitators snatched two eggs from the nest before construction crews demolished the stick structure to discourage the adults from returning.
Wildlife and construction don't mix and the action, while drastic, was for the birds' own good, everyone seemed to agree.
Yet, I can't help worrying that the hostile action against Haliaeetus leucocephalus at Ed Smith Stadium will translate into something else for the Icterus Galbula of Camden Yards: Annus horribilis.
Like we need another one of those.The bad karma potential here is enormous. We have two bedrock American icons in conflict: the symbol of our country vs. the nation's pastime. And in the end, the birds of Baltimore gave the bum's rush to the eagles of our founding fathers.
The eagles are going to be upset, but that's part of the process," a spokesman for Florida's leading wildlife agency told the newspaper. That's nothing compared to the angst of post-season starved Orioles fans who might be forced to endure another hideous year brought on by some ornithological curse.
I envision a spring training full of freak injuries, cold snaps, monsoon-like conditions directly over the ballpark, long losing streaks and lots of plays that just don't go Charm City's way. I wouldn't rule out locusts, either.
Even more disturbing -- who's to say the bad karma doesn't slip into the equipment bins in March for the trip north? The curse of ancient Indian burial grounds has nothing on the bad ju-ju of messing with a bird held sacred by some tribes.
It's a scenario only H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King could enjoy.
Granted, the eggs will be hatched and the eaglets raised and set free by the Bald Eagle Foundation of Tennessee -- perhaps a better fate than awaited them at the stadium construction site. But when you haven't enjoyed a winning season in 13 years, you're already walking on eggshells. Why mess with new ones?
-- Candus Thomson