Interesting Experience While Splitting

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Gene K.

New Member
Oct 16, 2007
47
SW Michigan
On Sunday, the 9th, I was busy splitting s pile of Maple, when suddenly there arose a furious flitting in the bush only a foot or so away from me. I turned my head to see a sharp-shinned hawk striking furiously at a small bird which was attempting to hide by climbing deeper into the bush. Startled, I watched flirting hawk wings pumping the air while talons dug constantly into the bush.

The small bird managed to avoid being a meal, and the hawk flew away to sulk in the pine tree on the other end of my driveway.

An exciting day for being outdoors with nature
 
Cool.

Last summer I found a dead "Sharpie" next to where my tractor was parked. Sad, I really love the preditory birds. About 5 years ago there was a Red Tail after one of my ducks. Duck was pretty smart. She sat right in the middle of a small pond next to the house. And the hawk sat in a tree about 20 feet from the pond. Probably waiting for the duck to spook and take off. I watched out the living room window for about 20 minutes. Then went out and waved the Halk off. Hawk flew up to the end of the driveway and perched on a telephone pole (about 700 feet away). The duck was a pet, followed me everywhere when I was out side. I tried to coax her out of the pond but she wouldn't budge as long as the Hawk was perched on the pole. I hopped in the truck and drove up to the end of the driveway and the Hawk took off. Then I came back down to the house, and the duck couldn't get under my feet to me quick enough. I walked over to the duck house and she ran in quacking her azz off until I shut the door. Like I said, I love the preditor birds. But I would have hated to see my duck be the Red Tails' lunch :p
 
We love raptors in our family. We make a game of spotting hawks and owls while driving and often visit the local bird sanctuary. It wouldn't have bothered me at all if the hawk caught the prey. It's just a fact of life, but regardless, it was an exciting moment.

"Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore."
--"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
 
Last summer, on a sunny afternoon, I was sitting on a rock next to a pond in Central Park, NYC. A few feet away some tourists were feeding several ducks on the bank of the pond. Suddenly, the ducks freaked out, screaming and scramming to the water. I look up and a hawk is swooping in like a dive bomber.
The ducks were safe and moments later acted as is if nothing had happened. I was still feeling the adrenaline rush an hour later.
 
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