How Two Bald Eagles Are Rejuvenating a Weary World

Last Sunday, as I sat at the kitchen table scanning the front page of the paper, I was immediately bombarded with reports of a world in disarray. There were stories of cascading crises around the world, escalating numbers of individuals without homes, a car theft epidemic, and an ever-widening political chasm further polarizing and fracturing our communities and government. Amid this grim news, there was also a report on the tragic death of Flaco, an owl who, after escaping from Manhattan’s Central Park Zoo, found a new home on the Upper West Side where he became a familiar and beloved addition to the neighborhood.

All of this was presented just on page one. I took a sip of my coffee and walked away with a heavy heart without turning the page.

Yet it didn’t take long before I stumbled on an antidote to the world’s ailments. While scrolling through digital news, I landed on something that gave me pause and filled me with a sense of awe.

I stumbled upon the live Bald Eagle Nest Cam and saw two adult eagles, Jackie and Shadow, perched in a nest high in the hills of Big Bear Valley California, protectively guarding their nest that held three eggs. The solar-powered camera offered a majestic yet intimate glimpse into another world as it promised to broadcast the upcoming spectacle of “pip watch,” the moment when eaglets begin cracking their shells. This live cam that attracts tens of thousands of viewers from around the globe was established in 2013 in the San Bernardino National Forest by the conservation group Friends of Big Bear Valley as a way to educate and preserve the region’s natural habitat.

After five minutes of watching Shadow and Jackie’s unwavering devotion to their eggs, my perspective shifted from feeling weighed down by the world’s trials to feeling rejuvenated, hopeful, and inspired.

In short, I was in awe.

The beauty of nature offers profound benefits

Source: IMAGE: Gina VIld

Awe, that sense of wonder and reverence when in the presence of something vast and majestic, sparks our curiosity, and leads to an understanding that we are a part of something that transcends the self. Awe makes us feel part of a larger universe. It prompts the same wonder that children experience when they first begin to explore the world.

Dacher Keltner, author of Awe: The Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life, identifies various sources of awe. These include nature, music, visual design, spirituality and religion, moral beauty, collective effervescence, life and death, and epiphany.

Awe is everywhere but only if you look for it.

The live cam experience is like witnessing the birth of a child or gazing at the night stars. All ignite a similar spark of awe. For some, awe is found in the soaring melody of a symphony. For others, we see it reflected in the wide-eyed wonder of young girls at their first Taylor Swift concert. It’s found whenever one encounters beauty—a beautiful object, exquisite art, or a mesmerizing vista—and experiences unabashed delight.

Nature is a powerful source of awe, humbling us with its grandeur and unending cycles of renewal. Whether standing amid the 2500-year-old redwoods or watching sandpipers on a beach at sunset, there are endless opportunities to connect with the natural world.

As the Celtic saying goes, “Heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in thin places, the distance is even shorter.” These thin places, where past, present, and future seem to collide, such as Sedona, the Glastonbury Tor, the Hill of Tara, the Himalayas, and the Grand Canyon, beguile and deepen our sense of awe.

Awe is more than a feeling; it is a potent force with profound benefits. It has been shown to heal the mind, body, and even community. Here’s how:

Stronger Mind

A recent study revealed that awe-inspiring experiences, particularly those involving nature can significantly reduce stress levels and promote greater well-being. This was reinforced by research involving healthcare workers, where taking a brief walk in nature and being immersed in the awe-inspiring beauty of green spaces, led to improved mental and psychophysical health.

Stronger Body

The positive impact of awe extends beyond mental well-being and reaches into the realm of physical health. Studies have established a correlation between awe-inspiring experiences and improved health benefits such as lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, molecules linked to various inflammatory diseases. This suggests that awe may regulate the body’s response to disease, potentially blunting the onset of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease.

Awe Essential Reads

Horrors from Above: Eclipses, Comets, and Human Dread

Awe in the Heavens

Stronger Community

Awe also fosters prosocial behavior, those actions that benefit individuals and the community. It promotes actions such as sharing, volunteering, cooperating, and the expression of empathy. Notably, research indicates that individuals who are more susceptible to awe demonstrate greater generosity and make more ethical decisions. The very act of standing within a grove of towering trees—seeing oneself as a small part of an infinite and beautiful world—can enhance feelings of generosity while simultaneously reducing entitlement. Perhaps in a world where people feel increasingly isolated and disenfranchised, the pursuit of awe-inspiring experiences can serve as a bridge that leads to a more collaborative and unified community.

Here’s some advice for the next time you feel weighted down by the world. Begin to cultivate awe in your everyday life. Step outside and look up. Take notice of the interplay between a bee and a flower. Wander through an art museum. Plant a seed, nurture it, and watch it grow. Find music you love and dance in the kitchen. Observe the simple acts of kindness by others.

Or, you can simply tune into the Big Bear Valley live cam and wait for Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets to hatch.