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“Legend say that some 600 years ago the Mishika people left their ancestral lands in the land to build a powerful new empire.”From the transcript
In one of the most iconic founding legends of the Americas, a Golden Eagle devouring a serpent atop a cactus marked the spot where the Mexicas would build Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire. Over the centuries, that ancient metropolis transformed into what we now call Mexico City. Though the mythical eagle is now commemorated on the national flag of Mexico, real Golden Eagles need our help through conservation research and habitat protections.
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BirdNote Daily — The Eagle, the Cactus, and the City on the Lake. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.
This is Birdnote. Legend say that some 600 years ago the Mishika people left their ancestral lands in the land to build a powerful new empire. Their journey was guided by Wichilobosti, God of the Sun and War, who told the Mishikas to look for the sign, an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a serpent. For years they wondered what is now Mexico in search of that prophecy. Until finally, they found the sacred bird on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Deskoko. There, the Mishikas built a floating city right on the water. This was the Nosteclan, capital of the Aztec Empire. And for several centuries and civilizations afterwards, it continued to grow and transform into the modern metropolis we now call Mexico City. Today, the Golden Eagle still purchased an unpurgly per cactus in the center of the
Mexican flag. Though the bird is immortalized in legend, real Golden Eagles now face threats like habitat loss, collisions with power lines and wind turbines, and poisoning from pesticides. By 2016, scientists estimated that fewer than 100 breeding pairs remained in Mexico. By protecting critical breeding ground and supporting raptor research, conservationists are helping Golden Eagle populations bounce back across North and Central America, giving hope that this powerful symbol will soar above Mexico's mountains for generations to come. For Bird Note, I'm Lucina Melisio. Bird Note is supported by Wild Delight Bird Food. Wild Delight provides thoughtfully crafted blends that support wild birds and backyard birders alike. Anyone who feeds birds knows the challenge. Squirrels are clever, persistent, and always nearby. Wild Delight, sizzle in heat, and squirrel lay zero waste blends offer a smart and natural
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