It serves me right, I’d have to say, hawk-hater that I’ve become. There was the attack on Gus and his family—that awful day back in November when we* lost one of the babies and when Gus (the hero) sustained such debilitating wounds. Then there was my exchange with fellow instagrammer @hayen regarding hawk terrorization of our neighborhoods: small dogs, walk at your own risk.
Yes. Of late, I’ve been giving careful consideration to the circle of life and the role these evil-doers—menacing, predatory, birds of prey—play in it.
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Hey babe. Look there on Blu’s branch. There’s a bird I haven’t seen before.
I grabbed my camera, hoping against hope I could get a good enough shot from the distance of the kitchen window to at least identify the species. But another tree blocked the view, so I headed out the side door. I slowly made my way down the hill, practicing my silent Indian-in-the-Woods walk.
That’s the bird I saw over by the dam last week, I thought. Could it be one of Jay’s owls, finally come to visit our side of the lake?
I continued on, and that big bird didn’t move. Click click click went my camera. Creep creep creep went my feet. And suddenly I was right there, so close I could see the curve of his beak.
It was no owl. But what a spectacular animal.
I nearly broke into a run as I headed back to the house, excited to download the shots and find his kind in one of my bird books. How thrilling to have a new addition to our Bickley’s Pond watch.
(You’ve no doubt guessed it by now.)
I’d like to introduce our hawk.
I’m a bit disappointed by the whole thing, to tell you the truth, this shattering of my illusion that hawks are big and black and brooding. In fact, I may well stay here, parked square in the middle of a dichotomy my mind can’t reconcile.
I think this bird is beautiful.
I still hate hawks.
As I was feeding Gus and the fam Tu night first one bird then another would hear something and stand straight up and start squawking. Then from out of nowhere, a hawk swooped down parallel along the side of the house, pretty low. All four guineas went nuts! Fortunatley it was just a ‘fly by’ but I’m thinking he is casing the joint for a future meal. Mother Nature is cruel!
Oh, Bonnie. This worries me. I wish there was something to do. Thinking of those sweet guineas and their little family.
Aunt Cathy, I love reading your posts. And your pictures are always amazing!
Love you,
Cack
How happy my heart is that you read thedailygrace and that you commented. Thank you so much, my sweet Catherine!
Gorgeous picture! I hate hawks too….they eat our squirrels and baby rabbits
I hadn’t even thought of the rabbits. We one that likes (liked?) to hang around under the bird feeder. Now that I think of it, haven’t seen him in a while!
Cathy,
Here in AZ we have the same problems. They swoop down out of the sky and suddenly a beloved small cat or dog is gone. But that bird in your photos is magnificent and awfully hard to hate. This situation reminds me of something I’ve heard in church: “Hate the sin, but love the sinner.” Do you reckon that will work for hawks?
Susan
I like it!