...or, A Bad Day At The Bird Feeder.

Sitting in the breakfast nook (where I have a view of the bird feeder, the back yard, and beyond) and working on the computer, my peripheral vision suddenly detected significant movement. I looked up just in time to see old Ms. Sharp-shinned pluck a sparow out of the air, as easily as if she was pulling a grape off the vine.

Then, in one continuing motion she swooped up to a horizontal oak branch onto which she proceeded to stomp her captured sparrow flat. She then took four or five minutes to pluck thecarcass clean before using her hooked bill to pull off chunks of red meat, and devour her catch.

Later in the afternoon, as Pax and I were coming back from our walk, Pax found the Ms. Sharp-shinned on the back stoop. He immediately sent her on her way, but he then stopped to investigate the pile of feathers, and other bits, lying right there on the snow. Apparently, one bird was not enough to a dinner make.

And, apparently, we are seeing natural selection at work. We can only assume that all the little birds who did not get caught were just a bit smarter or just a bit quicker that those who did, and that the next generation will be a little wiser to the ways of the hawk.

Still, I begin to wonder if I am being helpful by supplying food, and thus attracting prey, and putting Ms. Hawk on easy street.

I do know that if she gets lazy, Pax will send her to the happy hunting ground.