JoeWras
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2012
- Messages
- 11,702
The rain finally left so I tore myself away from the keyboard, and ER.org, and went outside to turn over my backyard compost pile. Immediately, I had an amazing wildlife encounter, right here in the city of Raleigh, NC.
Before I explain, a few questions for you:
- Has wildlife increased where you live?
- If so, what kind?
- Is any dangerous?
- What is the most dangerous?
- Do you like/love it, or hate it?
My encounter today was all by surprise. I was turning my compost pile in the deep woods of my backyard. Without warning, a small bird flew between my legs from behind and landed on the pile, against the back mesh. Whoa! But wait, the real surprise was a hawk came right on its tail and brushed by my ear and landed on the pile behind the bird. I yelled, "What THE!" and scared both animals away. Birds are precise and neither hit me. I think the sensation in both cases was of the breeze from the wings. However, I have to say having a hawk graze your ear is an amazing experience.
In retrospect, I was fascinated by the smarts of the small bird. I think it saw safety in the big oaf human, me. It used me as a shield of sorts. My yelling was not well accepted by the hawk, and it suddenly realized the big oaf with a shovel may not be too kind.
I have never seen a hawk up that close, merely 2 ft. away. Beautiful. Dangerous. But scared too.
Mostly, I embrace all the wildlife we see regularly. The recent addition of the bald eagle nesting pair, only 1/4 mile away is great. Right in the city!
As for the wildlife, I usually embrace it. But some days, I curse it. One word about that. Ticks.
Before I explain, a few questions for you:
- Has wildlife increased where you live?
- If so, what kind?
- Is any dangerous?
- What is the most dangerous?
- Do you like/love it, or hate it?
My encounter today was all by surprise. I was turning my compost pile in the deep woods of my backyard. Without warning, a small bird flew between my legs from behind and landed on the pile, against the back mesh. Whoa! But wait, the real surprise was a hawk came right on its tail and brushed by my ear and landed on the pile behind the bird. I yelled, "What THE!" and scared both animals away. Birds are precise and neither hit me. I think the sensation in both cases was of the breeze from the wings. However, I have to say having a hawk graze your ear is an amazing experience.
In retrospect, I was fascinated by the smarts of the small bird. I think it saw safety in the big oaf human, me. It used me as a shield of sorts. My yelling was not well accepted by the hawk, and it suddenly realized the big oaf with a shovel may not be too kind.
I have never seen a hawk up that close, merely 2 ft. away. Beautiful. Dangerous. But scared too.
Mostly, I embrace all the wildlife we see regularly. The recent addition of the bald eagle nesting pair, only 1/4 mile away is great. Right in the city!
As for the wildlife, I usually embrace it. But some days, I curse it. One word about that. Ticks.