The Windwalker

Omani Tate
by Sigrid Noll Ueblacker March 2003

In January of 2002 we released a beautiful Lady Eagle south of Boulder on Open Space property.

She was found just east of the release site under a power line, that was still vibrating from the impact that grounded the fatally injured bird with a fractured ulna and radius in her wing.

The man who found the mortally wounded eagle was a Native American, Nick Conda–Yellow Hands. Hours after her arrival Nick became a familiar and well-received guest and comforter of the eagle. His polite and gentle manners gave him access to “his” Lady Eagle any time he visited.

I remember the day when I took Omani Tate to Dr. Lee Eggleston for surgery in the middle of a snow storm. Usually, I never travel to Colorado Springs during a storm because of the dangerous road conditions. However, I knew that Nick was praying for both of us, and this gave me confidence to continue my journey. The surgery went well and upon my arrival Nick was waiting for both of us to find out about the outcome of the surgery.

During the next 12 months Nick visited “His Girl” several times a week. He offered her gifts, he fixed prayer ties on the trees outside of the clinic. Often I gave him the space and privacy to spend time alone with the bird, because I knew that the two of them had a special connection that needed to be cultivated.

In time the cool steel pin that was inserted into the fractured bone was removed and Omani Tate was moved into our large aviary. It was a great day, and as usual, Nick was there. He continued to visit her, offered gifts, smoked his special pipe and paid respect to the Holy One. He began to tie black, white, yellow and blue prayer medicine bundles on the trees outside the flight cage now. Nick was always welcome. He never imposed and he was always respectful of all the birds he met.

There came the day when I realized that Omani’s wrist joint was not as mobile and flexible as it should have been, and my heart sank. Something needed to happen to let this eagle fly again. Nick often visited the territory of Omani Tate and her mate had been occupying for many years. He knew that her mate was still waiting and hoping for her return.

Never have I given anyone the permission to do what I allowed Nick to do. To me it felt good and right, and to Nick is was a ritual of respect and determination to return her to her home and her mate. Several times each week Nick went respectfully into the cage and set a goal for “His Girl”. He gently began to move her through the 108 foot cage from one perch to the other. With his help and his optimism she began to improve and her joint limbered and became flexible and whole again.

Nick chose the location of her release. On a beautiful January day in 2002 we began our journey of a great day. As I removed the bird from her transport cage, I handed her to Nick. His joy was immense and as he finally held her in his arms. She looked up at him, and the connection between the man and the bird was so clear. “I will never forget you Girl,” were the words he said when he set her free.

We stayed for a long time afterwards, we participated in his rituals, burned sage, smoked the pipe, and drank a blessed drink he offered us as we prayed. We watched her move around the trees across the valley. It was a perfect and peaceful day as we left the area. Our God was with us.

The following day Nick burst into the office with a face shining of joy and pride as he announced the sighting of his “His Girl” and her mate flying together.

“So, Nick”, I said, “how do you know it was your bird that flew with the male eagle?”

“I know it was her, because she still had a slight droop to her right wing when she perched, and I saw the white feather on that injured wing.”

“All true,” I said to myself. “You can’t fool an Indian.” And “more power to the eagle who waited for his mate for one whole year.”

The magic went then. I tried to bring Nick back to participate in future projects, but somehow he faded away. This bird was a highlight of his life, and a turning point in his future.

It was one time, one eagle, one beautiful and perfect day that brought us together for a bittersweet, short and precious moment. All that happened was good and right, and it ended in a perfect day. Little in our lives lasts forever, but these treasured moments will be remembered forever. May our two eagles soar in our beautiful blue skies together for a long time to come.

Updated by Elke on September 8, 2005 11:15 PM