Of Hawks and Great Horned Owls… Sunday Musings
My entire family was flying in later that day. As I rushed through last minute preparations, I looked out my kitchen window and thought for a moment a new statue had appeared.
Standing proud and still with a plump gray pigeon in his talon, a hawk paused on the red rocks in my back yard. He stayed long enough for me to find my camera and take three shots. Then, effortlessly he spread his wings and glided with his dinner off to a waiting nest above my trees.
There’s still debate about his lineage. Some say he’s a Coopers Hawk, others say he’s a Red-tailed Hawk. And one says he’s a she. He stood about 24″ high with a wing span twice that. The pigeon didn’t stand a chance.
Later that night as we unloaded family from cars and carried luggage into the house, we heard another raptor. A Great Horned Owl had taken up residence in a palm tree two houses down. Neighbors said they saw her climbing up the side of the tree and hiding under dead fronds hanging like an awning over the tree trunk. As we strained to see her, we heard a deeper “Whoooooo Whoooo” from across the street.
We ran to find binoculars. There, in a large Eucalyptus across from the Palm, a giant male Great Horned Owl stood watch over the smaller female. My neighbor grabbed a flashlight and we shined it on the owl as he watched us watching him. I looked through the binoculars and met his eyes. I felt a chill run down my spine. I had a distinct feeling he was sizing me up – deciding if he could lift me and figuring how many meals he could get for his little family.
There’s much talk about why these three raptors have graced our neighborhood. It’s winter, so they fly to warmer climates until things settle down up north. But why here? I’ve lived here 5 years and never saw them before. It’s the old balance of nature thing, I suppose. We’ve had an inordinately large flock of gray pigeons this year. They like to hang out with the smaller birds in my back yard because I’ve taken to feeding the little winged critters.
Nature doesn’t like imbalance, so she’s sent the raptors to deal with the pigeons and who-knows-what-else lurking in the Phoenix night.
Me? I’ve taken to watching my 5-pound Chihuahua’s back everywhere she goes. No more careless romping in the back yard. No more running ahead on the leash. People tell me that Coopers and Red-Tailed Hawks don’t eat Chihuahuas. But I don’t want to prove them wrong. And I’m purty sure that old Horned Owl would love to carry off my fat little furball. She’d make a great meal for his baby owls. They’re probably bigger than she is.
The world has gone to the birds!
Cheers,
Beth
© 2008 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc
Hi KerrieAnn – thanks! That’s a good one. That bird was unbelievable. My Chihuahua wrote about it in her column
. I have a newsletter at http://www.bethterry.com/newsletter.html
She writes a column every month (well, she licks my fingers as I help her write it.) Her picture is there. You can see why I follow her around outside now! LOL
Happy 2008!
Beth
Your raptor would probably say that a “Bird in the hand is better than two birds in your cactus!”. Take care of the pup and yourself. Thank you for your inspiration and a safe, happy and healthy New Year to you and yours.