November, 2009
While waiting for my fettucinni jambalaya to be served, I looked out through the plate glass wall separating me from the cold air and beautiful white snow hills and frosted trees of a well manicured golf course. Sensing something in flight above eye level, I looked up to see the greyish under side of a bird soaring across my field of vision. My heart leaped just until I was able to get myself under control so that I could carefully observe the events to come. As quick as the bird entered my vision, it disappeared, I remarked to myself that I see why the underside of the bird was light grey. It seemed to match the overcast sky which would make it difficult for any near sighted creature to be forewarned of the impending doom brought down by a bird of prey.
Still as a frightened rabbit, and focused as I could be, I watched the bird fly up to a tall pine tree and disappear in the highest branches. As the bird landed I could see the distinctive tail of the red tailed hawk, a bird I had seen many times. As I waited for any sign of movement, I wondered what was up…normal feeding time or a more interesting prospect? Then nothing until two large black crows went after a hawk over the the left of field and then out of my vision.
Now, my heart was singing. What was the chase about? A nest, or a favorite food source, or was it just a plain old ‘Get out of our territory, we know why you came!’ sort of thing?
Suddenly, two red tail hawks appeared, flying in after the crows who were chasing down the first hawk. Then, two crows chasing the two red hawks back towards and then in front of me and vanishing behind the giant pines. By now, my heart was double beating and it was all I could do to keep from jumping up and shouting to the whole restaurant, “Hey, why aren’t you watching the hawks and crows? It’s much better than TV! And the chase goes on and on and on and on…