Red-tailed Hawk

Spring has sprung, the grass has ris. I wonder where the birdies is? That’s a little poem I remember from my childhood. Fortunately, the birds are here. Some species are disappearing, but many others are OK, or actually increasing numbers. Habitat loss accounts for fewer barn owls. There are so few barns around now; there are not so many places to nest. Other owls are better off, nesting in tree cavities or other bird’s abandoned nests.

I still have a lot of hawks around the old place. Recently, some of my neighbor children were walking by while a sharp shinned hawk was eating a small gray bird near the road. The hawk flew off, and the boys used a stick to examine the kill. A few minutes after they left, the hawk returned. It flew off again, flaring its wings, flying almost sideways as it skirted a tree and rose up and away. I am surprised to see this small hawk here, because I also have a pair of red tailed hawks nesting near by, also. Smaller hawks are fair game for the larger ones.

It might seem harsh to see birds eating birds, but it is only the circle of life. Not every animal can exist on a plant diet. One of my favorite plant eaters is the wild turkey, whose numbers continue to increase. These beautiful big birds find more than enough to eat in the field, and may spend hours by the end of summer, they have made paths all through it.

I don’t feed any of the birds that visit my yard, I have too many mice that grow on the seeds and then get into my cellar. Squirrels, too, steal the food, and tease my dog. For some reason, she goes crazy when she sees a squirrel. Even if I just say the word, she flies to the nearest window and starts barking. She will watch birds quietly, even the big turkeys. Perhaps she is picking up on my feelings about wildlife?