When bird feathers rain down on me I get excited. Not because the bird feathers are falling on me, but because this is something that never happens.
“What in the world is going on?” I wonder. “What am I going to see?”
I was mowing the lawn atop the riding lawnmower on this particular evening, enjoying the intoxicating scent (honey x orange blossom) of the blooming American basswood tree; otherwise known as the linden tree. The air was thick with humidity, the sun was hidden behind a dense blanket of clouds, and there was a slight breeze from the east bringing the blooming basswood scent from the backyard, where the tree stands, to the front. I was lost in my thoughts, as I normally am while I mow, when bird feathers began falling from the sky.
Slowing the mower, I looked down to see many more bird feathers, mostly black in color, littering the grass.
I looked up to see a pair of sharp-shinned hawks perching not ten feet above me in a giant red pine tree. One flew away as I slowed the mower, but the other stayed put. I surmised that this hawk was probably the one that was in possession of an evening meal.
I continued mowing.
The sharp-shinned hawk was still in the tree on my next pass on the mower, so I decided to go grab my camera to see if I could take a quick photograph. Sure enough, the hawk was there. Aiming the camera, I snapped one picture before the sharp-shinned hawk took flight – carrying the prey, and letting out a shrill cry.
Settling back into the mower, I reflected on what had just happened. I felt lucky – lucky to be in the right spot at the right time to see the natural food chain in action, and lucky that the hawk stayed long enough for me to get one picture.
Upon closer observation of the picture and the feathers that were pooled underneath the red pine, I determined that the sharp-shinned hawk had preyed on a red-wing blackbird. You can see the black feet of the bird underneath the hawk (one foot is under the hawk’s right foot, and the other is directly underneath the end of the hawk’s tail) if you look closely at the picture above. I also found a small tuft of vivid red-orange feathers among the masses of black feathers that would have decorated the male bird’s wings.
My family and I had fun putting together the pieces of this natural puzzle in order to determine what type of bird the sharp-shinned hawk had preyed upon. This experience reminded me of an article I had recently read by author Ruth Daly, titled Get Outside!
Ruth opens with the line “It doesn’t matter how short the walk is, there’s always something to see.” It’s true! Here I was in my front yard – about 50 yards from my front door – when I observed something I had never experienced before. So, when bird feathers rain down on me in the future, I’ll be sure to look around to see if a new experience is awaiting me.
Will you?
You can see a photo of a red-wing blackbird in Ruth’s Get Outside! post here. While you’re there, check out the darling photos of the goslings too – they’re my favorite.
Also, if you want more reasons to get outside and get into nature, check out my research-based article here.
Finally, have you had any interesting brushes with nature? I’d love to read about your stories in the comment section below.
Thanks for reading!
I always look. I have never had the luck to see a sharp-shinned hawk in real life. They are very uncommon in all the places I’ve lived. What a lovely thing he is. The red-winged blackbird is a good friend here and in the mountains of San Diego, though not in the city. I used to feel a tug of “home” when I lived in CA and heard his little rusty-screen-door call when I was hiking in the mountains. He seemed to say, “You’ll go back.” And I did. <3
These sharp-shinned hawks have taken up residence in our pine trees for the past few years. In fact, they have been know to perch on the railing of our back deck while watching our chickens. I think they know that the chickens are a little large for them, but it doesn’t stop them from dreaming. 🙂
We also love the red-wing blackbirds – the males are one of the first to migrate back to MN in the early spring. When they come, we know that warm weather just around the corner.
I’m happy this post has conjured up some warm memories for you – thanks so much for sharing them, Martha!
This is amaaaazing Erin!! I know it’s not cool for the blackbird, but wow. You were so lucky to see her while you were mowing!!
I really love the crazy orange colour of those last feathers as well.
I saw another baby bear this week. I turned around and walked away as soon as I saw it…but he/she was soooo cute! I have to admit. I am glad I didn’t run into mummy bear!!
I’m glad you didn’t run into mummy bear too! Eek! That would be slightly terrifying. 🙂 You’re so lucky to be seeing these bears in the wild. I’ve only seen one black bear, and it would booking it across a highway on the north shore of Lake Superior.
I love that these experiences manifest so much excitement in people. There’s always something special waiting as we step out the door – we just have to look.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Josy! 🙂
Oh wow. At first I thought you were a supremely keen photographer carrying your camera with you on the mower, until I read on. What a treat for you and the hawk. Sad for the blackbird, but the hawk has to eat.
Ha! No, I mow without my camera. The sharp-shinned hawk was just extremely patient with me. Thanks so much for your comment, Tracy! 🙂
Wow–mystery and drama right above your head! Great piece!
Thanks, Rebecca!
What’s so interesting here, at least to me, is how in love with your feathered friends you are—how you care for them and tend to their wounds—and yet can also celebrate the circle of life as exhibited here. It’s a paradox to me, but the kind I think more of us should embrace.
Just today I was walking in to work and thinking how beautiful the sky looked and how perfect the temperature felt. Yet I’d just listened to a story on the radio about a 6yr old girl separated from her family and without anyone she knew, or who even knew her language, to care for her. My heart hurt. But the day was beautiful, and a baker baked bread in a storefront, and people around me smiled. The world is both suffering and joy. It is both heartache and love.
The world simply is. Our perspective, and our ability to hold two seemingly contradictory ideas in our heads at once, makes us humans unique in our world.
Can I add your words to my post, Angela? 😉 They are just perfect, and true. Your ability to write a wonderful story in a mere comment is admirable.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to save every animal I saw hurting. As an adult, I understand “the circle of life,” and I also find it interesting. Luckily, the red-wing blackbird was already dead. If I saw it struggling, the experience would have been very different. It would have been hard for me to witness.
As far as my chickens go – they count on me to keep them safe and healthy. When something does happen, I take it very personally. Plus, I know them – each chicken has their own personality, they all have names, and they all come running to us when we go outside because they like to be by people.
Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for sharing your experiences. I get to start my day off with a smile, thanks to you.
I love that your chickens love you. There is something so wonderful about that, how familiarity and the act of caring for something is in itself a tie that binds. 🙂
I always love observing these moments of nature and trying to guess what has happened with the clues left behind. The other day we came upon the largest pile of bear scat any of us had ever seen and tried to guess at what kind of bear, how big, what had it eaten and whether it had just woken from hibernation! It makes for great conversation and in some way connects us with nature rather than just walking by. Seeing things like this and your bird of prey in action remind us we are part of a bigger world. 🙂
You are absolutely correct! We are but a minuscule part of our giant world. There is so much out there to explore and experience.
I love that you visually dissected the bear scat. My kids would have been very excited to see that!
Within the last couple of days, we witnessed the hawk picking apart and yellow warbler, and then sunning itself on our driveway. The hawk has been putting on quite the show for us.
Thanks so much for sharing your story! 🙂
Yes, it sounds like you have an awful amount of science going on at your place! 🙂
A Buzzard with fingertip shaped wings once swooped to the fallen sycamore across the river that meanders by the bottom of our then garden ( we moved away last year). A Leveret was clutched in its claws, Watching it devour its prey was amazing. I did not get the shot as photographically I am inept; capturing only the tree. So to see and get the image is something else … well done.
Thanks, Ellen! I felt the same as you did when you watched the buzzard eat the leveret – I was amazed as I watched that hawk de-feather the blackbird. Since this incident, the hawk has eaten at least two more birds – one we saw. He or she has also been caught sunning itself in the driveway twice. I think the hawk is here to stay!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Ellen! x
Comments are payment for a good write … in my world.
That is very of kind of you, Ellen – thank you! x
I love the idea of a natural puzzle x
I do too, Orla! At least two more birds have been eaten in our yard since this story, so we’ve been keeping track of the different types of birds. That hawk is a mighty good hunter!
Thanks so much for reading, and for your comment too! x