So there I was, walking home from campus, minding my own business, when a big hawk flew right in front of me with a squirrel in its claw! It landed in a nearby tree about ten feet off the ground. As I cautiously approached to try and get a better look, the squirrel and hawk both fell/flew out at me. The hawk landed on a nearby minivan, then relocated to a higher branch to keep watch on the injured (but surprisingly not dead) squirrel. Thus began a half hour of Nature Channel on my block, which was especially unexpected since we live in the city. (There's a 12-lane highway at the end of our block.)
Several people from the nearby coffee shop came and got a better view of the action. We watched the bird watching the squirrel. We recreated the scene: "It had it in its claw!" We hoped the bird would not attack us. Some people felt bad for the squirrel, which was bleeding from the eye and not walking very well. I thought, "Well, that's what it means to be a carnivore," and wondered where they thought their own meat came from.
Then I ran home and grabbed the camera and snapped the above picture. But that's not all! I also grabbed my National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th edition, which Heidi just bought me for my birthday. I am not a birdwatcher; I just wanted to know more about birds. As best I could tell, it was some sort of red-tailed hawk (p. 116). But I'm not sure. Does anyone know anything about birds who could confirm or correct that ID?
Anyhow, that sure was a hoot. Actually, more of a "harsh, descending keeeeeer" (p. 116). I assume the hawk eventually got its dinner, but I didn't stay to see for sure. Thank God, I've got better things than squirrel to eat for dinner tonight. Mac 'n' cheese. Yum.
2 comments:
Heidi, this is your mother. As soon as I saw the picture I said, "Red tailed hawk". We had three of them on the trail this summer. One was hanging out this morning on the top of the power line.
We had an injured one that I tried to get professional help for, but the "Bird Lady" in Muskegon wanted ME to put on gloves and protective glasses (like you own, tee hee hee) and capture it myself, then bring it to her in a box to try to rehabilitate. I did think about it, but when she said to bring a towel to ward off its swooping mother or mate, I decided to let nature take over. After seeing it on the ground on our street 3 days in a row, hopping around, I never saw it again. Did I ever tell you that story? I think not.
That's so crazy! I saw one of those on my dog walk this morning in Azusa, and it looked completely out of place. When I was growing up in Oklahoma I usually saw them lining fence posts in the country areas, so it was weird seeing one in such an urban environment. Nice picture!
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