Hawk Who Goes There

It being October, I am in a state of more-or-less perpetual raking. Rake one leaf, two more fall to take its place. This year has been even less pleasant than usual because every so often I'll put the rake into a nice cluster of leaves and upturn a small, fresh, ant-covered bone. At first I thought pedestrian passersby were, say, getting a chicken wing or thigh at the nearby Safeway, eating as they walked up the street, and tossing the bones into my yard.

Jimmy the Goshawk
Jimmy the goshawk, perched on the neighbor's chimney one foggy morning.

At least, until I realized most of the bones are kinda small for chicken…and too uncooked. Then I remembered Jimmy.

Jimmy is a juvenile goshawk that sometimes hangs out in the giant maple tree out front. My guess is that Jimmy (named for James Gutterman—let's see if anyone gets that reference!) has been preying on a nearby flock of pigeons, and occasionally bringing a kill back to the sturdy branches of the maple. Goshawks aren't the neatest of eaters: they'll tear at prey with their beaks and feet to strip off easy pieces of meat, but once they get bored, the prey falls to the ground, or they're startled, they usually abandon their meal.

And then, my guess, is that the crows find the pieces and distribute well-picked-over remains throughout the neighborhood. And the ants get the bones.

I am, however, pleased to report that this year I have some assistance in cleaning out the gutters on the house. In addition to Jimmy, the maple tree is also frequently visited by Lennie and Squiggy, who I refer to as The Unambiguously Gay Squirrels. (Any moralists who want to argue homosexuality does not occur in nature are welcome to set up some camp chairs on the sidewalk and observe Lennie and Squiggy "playing.")

As with all couples, one partner seems to do most of the housework while the other brings home the bacon and…well, maybe while the other keeps a lookout for goshawks. Squiggy is the homemaker of the squirrels, and this year he's decided to make a nest in a low, sheltered crook of the maple tree, all tricked out with giant maple leafs obtained from the house gutters. Lennie appears to enjoy supervising from a nearby branch. Here's the view from my office window:


(Click to play cheesy QuickTime video)

Ever seen Martha Stewart leaping through thin air to get insulation for her home? Didn't think so.

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