Subject: Northern Harriers Back
Date: Sep 20 15:21:34 2002
From: mapste - mapste at coastaccess.com


I don't know where the Northern Harriers go in the summer (to the north, I suppose, or maybe just deeper into the undeveloped areas of Ocean Shores) but they have recently returned to my backyard. Today I had the gift of seeing one hover and fly through about 10-15 feet from my window. Scared the heck out of all the finches at the feeders, but they all survived! It is amazing to watch these large hawks catch our constant wind under their wings so they can float and hover just over the tips of the grasses and bushes, looking for their next meal. I have seen them glide low almost two blocks without ever flapping their wings. I do wish they'd be more interested in catching the field mice that are starting to move into my garage for the winter!