Feb. 26 - Lisa's Musings From Every Day Life

It's a bird eat bird world out there.

At least it was this afternoon when what I think was a Red-Tailed Hawk came to visit and landed in the large maple tree outside my dining room window.

I'd filled the bird feeders during the snow earlier this week, and all the birds in the neighborhood were having some lunch when the hawk decided to drop in.

He (or she) not sure which, perched on one of the larger branches -- one that had an unobstructed view of all three feeders.

And waited.

Not sure how long he was there before my friend Becca and I noticed him -- but certainly long enough to have a head covered in snow.

Silently, and only twitching a feather or two every so often, the hawk surveyed all the potential snacks beneath his claws.

While most of the bigger, and perhaps smarter birds, headed for the hills -- or maybe other trees -- a few smaller, and perhaps dumber birds, hung around.

Slowly turning a head from side to side, the tension mounted. At least from our vantage point.

I found myself telling all the birds to fly, fly away.

They didn't listen.

The next thing we knew, the hawk swooped toward the ground and grabbed one of the smaller birds, which in turn, nabbed my puppy's attention.

He, in fact, was the one who alerted us to the fact that there was one less bird at the feeders.

After a short while, the hawk was back.

Guess it doesn't take long to devour a small bird when you're a large hawk.

We watched and watched, waiting for a second bird to meet the same fate.

Becca said she thought the hawk wasn't as hungry so that's why he sat there for so long without picking his next feathered victim.

There were lots and lots of choices available -- large and small.

But we decided he was waiting for a larger prize -- like a chipmunk or a squirrel.

When none materialized, he flew off as silently as he arrived.

It's about 15 minutes later and all the birds, and the chipmunks and squirrels, are back jockeying for feeder position.

Wonder where the hawk is now.

(As an aside, Driver and I are headed back into the show ring this weekend, so it will probably be late night before I have a chance to blog this weekend. As such, there won't be a Lisa and Betty project this weekend, either.)