Squawk!
19/09/2009
We’re heading into Autumn, and the days will start getting shorter. Can’t say I’m looking forward to that, but with all things in life, what you don’t like gives definition to what you do. So. I suppose I’ll get to look forward to Spring again.
Early this afternoon I was in the kitchen thinking about lunch when I heard some pretty loud squawking coming from what seemed like my backyard. That’s a pretty loud bird, I thought, and didn’t think too much of it. Off and on I’d hear a bird or two in the day, so it wasn’t anything that special. But when the squawking went on for more than 5 minutes, it really began to annoy me. Where the heck was that bird, and why is it so loud?
That’s when I spotted a large bird on the Yucca tree in my backyard. It was kind awkwardly big for that tree, and it didn’t look like the usual birdies that invade our backyard. It looked. Serious.
That’s about when I realised it was some sort of hawk or eagle or something, and started yelling at KF like I found money – there’s an eagle in our backyard there’s an eagle in our backyard!!
We stare at it for a few minutes from my workroom downstairs. I still hear squawking, but it’s not moving it’s mouth. Where is the incessant squawking coming from? We follow the hawk’s gaze and realise it’s actually watching out for her whiney, insecure and terrified baby hawk who’s perched on a tree in our neighbour’s backyard. The baby bird squawked some more, and mommy bird just watched on, probably rolling her eyes at his exaggerated claims of how difficult the flightpath was.
Anyway, after what seemed like forever, baby bird finally shut up, braced itself for a split second, and flew off southwards. Mommy bird gave him a headstart, and flew off protectively after him after 20 seconds.
Ah nature in action, in my urban backyard.
