Section 3

 As she made her way to her car- she quickly texted Brittney back “Small detour- will talk later.” Bryn wasn’t ready to talk about brunch but she also felt guilty about putting her sister off. Brittney has always been her biggest champion and cheerleader. To make it up to her, Bryn grabbed the GO PRO from her “Go Bag”. Bryn had gotten in the habit of recording her outings to help with her research but it also became an outlet for her sister who enjoyed viewing the footage of hikes in the woods. 

Bryn grabbed her binoculars and sunglasses as well. She smiled to herself, her outfit was looking more ridiculous by the minute. As she watched the birdwatchers gather at the trailhead in their colorful outfits, she smiled again “I actually might fit in with these old ladies more than I realize.” 

Bryn jogged to catch up to the group, “Oh good- “ Ranger said dryly “ One more to our group. Well come on- Streamers.” He waved an arm to motion them all to follow him as started down the trail,

“Streamers?” Bryn asked the group of ladies? She knew Appalachian trail had a vocabulary of its own, but she wasn’t familiar with this term?

“Don’t mind him Dear,” a lady in the pink visor said as she patted Bryn on the arm. “He thinks you are one of those social media girls with your fancy head camera.” 

Another lady with a green neon visor advised, “Don’t take too many selfies- Ranger dislikes… what does he call them?” 

“Phoneys…” the group of ladies replied all nodding.

“That’s right- phoneys. You know the type, they gets all dressed up and walk the trail, taking selfies pretending they are serious hikers. You are not a phony are you?”

The lady with the pink visor interjected protectively “No she’s not, she actually knows about birds.” And she slipped her arm in with Bryn’s and set the pace to catch up with Ranger.

Bryn replied, “I actually DO research birds.” She realized she must look ridiculous with a spring dress, rubber boots, and a GoPro. “I like to use my GoPro to help document the birds I see and hear.” 

“Well then Dear, you better be upfront- so you can get the best view.” the lady in the pink visor said as she nudged her to the front of the pack. 

Ranger stopped for the ladies to catch up. He points to some fat little birds with tiny heads,  hopping to and fro on the ground next to the trail. In a drone tone, Ranger quizzed, “Gold Star to anyone who can name these little birds.”

Bryn recognized these Dark-eyed Juncos, they reminded Bryn of a retro toy in her grandmother's toy chest. 

“Dark-eyed Junco” the ladies reply. You are starting us off easy!”

 The group enjoys a leisure stroll, commenting not just on birds but flowers and trees in bloom. Ranger kept the walk to a fast clip and rarely spoke.

“Hey, where’s the fire?” Bryn tried to start a conversation light-hearted, “I notice some of the ladies can’t keep up.” 

Ranger replied, “We have to make have to the lookout to fulfill our agreement with the Audubon Society. If I let these ladies set the pace, we wouldn’t make it more than 5 feet up the trail in an hour.” 

“Well, you are losing half the group.”

“They’ll catch up” Ranger replied and turned to listen to the chatter on his work radio. As it turns out the lookout wasn’t too far ahead. Bryn slowed her pace to visit with the ladies. Ranger then stopped where there was a clearing in the trees and stared off in the distance.

As the group caught up, they all gasped.

Bald eagles with locked talons tumbled in the sky- until the last moment- to unlock and soar again, high in the sky to repeat the aerobatic feat again.

The group watched in awe as the eagles underwent this flying ritual a handful of times before flying off.

There was a moment of silence.

In a monotone voice, Ranger offered “Bald Eagles are monogamous, yet each year they do this ritual before mating season.” Over the radio Bryn heard amid the static someone say, “Widowmakers spotted on the north rim.” Ranger clicked the radio “Just document on the map and we’ll add them to the list.”

“Roger that”  was the static reply.

The little old lady in the yellow visor asked, “Why do they do this, it seems a bit risky.”

Ranger turned on his heels agitated, “Time to head back ladies.”

When it was obvious Ranger was not going to answer- another lady offered.

“Oh I don’t know,” said another, “it seems kinda romantic”.

“How so?” said another?

“Year after year they do a trust fall to recommit to the relationship”.

“Well, I am glad my husband Ronald isn’t interested in anything risky like that- we go out to eat for our anniversary.”

The group then all chuckled.

 “Birds are romantic, aren't they?” one lady asks Ranger, who was a few strides ahead of the group.

“Uh, I don’t know,” said Ranger absentmindedly, “ I haven’t thought much about it.”

Then the lady turned to Bryn, “What do you think?” 

“I agree,” Bryn said, “ 90% of birds mate for life.”

 The group looked up to admire a flock of geese flying overhead.

 “Take geese for example.” Bryn explained, “ If one is sick or unable to fly- their mate will stay with them until they recover or die. Regardless if winter is upon them.”

The little old lady with the pink visor slipped her arm in the crook of Bryn’s. “Loyalty- I like that.” 

Ranger looked back occasionally, impatient. Every year these birdwatchers get more and more ridiculous, he thought looking at Bryn. It's hard to listen to their chatter, making speculations that never would be able to be scientifically proven. There were a million things to do, to get the trail ready for the season and here I am, stuck babysitting a tea party.