Todays lesson was on birds of prey. Went through some slides of the major
types then went over a few blocks to the local park and manmade lake for
some general bird watching, not a chance of seeing a hawk in this place
usually. So after looking at the ducks, a kestrel flies overhead, turns
around, then lands on a fence post in perfect view of my students. Not a bad
day, but wait there's more. As the Kestrel flies off and we start walking
there is a rustle in the blackberries and out hops a Sharpie, with a song
sparrow in the talons. It poses on a small bush, not 20 feet away (nice
lesson on talons, the sparrow was pierced and dripping blood). Ok, wow, what
luck. But wait, what are those things out over the field, 1, 2, 4, Bald
eagles playing some kind of tag, about 3 feet off the ground and flying
hard. Here they come, oh my gosh are they going to hit us? The eagles cruise
low, quite close, then veer off, 2 chasing a third. Whew! Can we go home
now? Wait,what's that gray thing over there? It?s a male harrier and its
eating something. Get the scope on it. Oooh yech that mouse has no head!
Oogh cool, gross, gnarly.... A pair of soaring redtails, appear from
nowhere magically overhead, showing off their buteo forms nicely, red-tails
shining in the sun. We all sit, some lay on the grass and watch them
soaring, soaring around and around, the sunshine warm on our faces.

Hey Teacher Rob sez a kid, this bird watching thing is kinda cool. I never
there were so many hawks and stuff around here. Can I do this as a job
someday?

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, writer, teacher

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