Standing within the wetlands of the Long Meadow Lake Unit in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge for the first time at sunrise. It was not just a sunrise, it was the 2015 Vernal Equinox sunrise. As I walked on the long boardwalk into the wetlands, two bald eagles became airborne...flying south while one remained standing on a large remnant of winter ice about 500 yards away. Sunrise was beautiful, peaceful, quiet...only a chorus of birds, from Canada geese to ducks, cardinals, chickadees, nuthatch, and redwing blackbirds...those I could distinguish by their songs and calls. Equally as beautiful was the sky behind me, the west, with wispy clouds picking up the pre-sunrise colors. What I didn't realize, until I returned home and opened up the photos on my computer, were two bald eagles in the trees by the Cedar Avenue Bridge, who came to watch the Equinox sunrise as well. Looking through the photos in sequential order, they arrived together just prior to the first sight of the sun, and they left together when the sun was completely visible as a sphere within the treeline horizon. To me, it was extra special to photograph this sunrise...not realizing until later that I watched it together with a majestic pair of bald eagles. The wildlife refuge is an incredible sanctuary here, in the heart of the Twin Cities...one of the best kept secrets...and I am fortunate to be within 4 miles of one of many access points.

by: Lorinda K