copyright © 2003 by Robert L. Blau

    In the long ago, each bird was created with a unique character and capabilities.  The Eagle was created noblest of birds, regal of visage, swift of wing, sharp of talon, surfer of the high winds and master of the towering clouds.  The Vulture was created the grim presence of birds, dark of mien, foul of breath, dire of portent, client of death and picker of carrion.
    Small wonder that the birds admired the Eagle and looked to it for leadership, or that they scorned and shunned the Vulture. Nor is it surprising that the Vulture envied the Eagle and yearned to occupy its place.  One day, when the Eagle was soaring in parts unknown, the Vulture clambered into its nest.  Then it took a couple of loose Eagle feathers and tucked them between its own feathers.
    "I am the Eagle, I am the Eagle!" croaked the Vulture.
    The other birds looked and scratched their heads.
    "Well, he's in the Eagle's nest," said one bird, "so he must be the Eagle."
    "Oh, yes," said another. "And he keeps repeating it so loudly and insistently."
    So all the birds agreed that the Vulture was the Eagle.  Or almost all of them.
    "Excuse me," said the Chick. "That's the Vulture.  He may be sitting in the Eagle's nest, and he may have a couple of Eagle feathers stuck among his Vulture feathers, but a Vulture is a Vulture."
    "How dare you!" gasped the other birds. "How dare you insult the Eagle!"  And they all declared that they would have no more to do with the Chick.
    However, there were a few birds whose beaks were not stuck so firmly up their anuses who said, "You know, there's a difference between insulting the Eagle and knowing the difference between an Eagle and a Vulture."