OK, so most of you here know that I regard animals as important as humans. More tasty, but as equal in deserving of respect and admiration and protection. So while some people's goals are to kill the biggest buck of the season, my goal is to get something wild to eat out of my hand. (And to eat the deer killed by the aforementioned person) I love animals. Always have, always will. I'm the opposite of a dominionist. Anyway...

So there's this hawk that's been hanging out in our neighborhood. Not real big, prolly a chickenhawk, but anyway, he's just been popping up in our yard at near ground level. Pretty unusual behavior for such a bird. Usually they stay up high and swoop down on their prey. I'd never seen one at eye level until just the other day...

(Not my picture)

I was coming out of our garage and walking along our fence and came eye to eye with the hawk. I've never seen a bird of prey up close , and there he was, about 5 feet from me. Not concerned about me at all. ( He was prolly planning on feasting on my eyeball. Luckily I have prescription protective eye wear) Anyway, I'm standing there, as still as can be, admiring him as he scans the scenery and the BAM! He slams down into the bush right below him. When I say slammed, I mean slammed. I don't know how he did it. He didn't jump. He didn't dive. But he shot into that bush with the speed of a cat. And he hopped out with a little wren (maybe a finch) in his claws. There had been about 5 or 6 wrens (maybe finches) in the bush that were totally unaware of his presence. Well, he brought it out in front of me, gave me a bird wink, and flew off with his snack. Pretty cool to see that so close up. Now I understand what he's been doing in our yard. Our next-door neighbor has quite the extensive collection of bird feeders with quite an extensive variety of bird seeds. This hawk found his all-you-can-eat buffet.

And in the world on NW Iowa mammals...

Most of you guys know about the extensive squirrel feeding program I have running along the same fence where the hawk was. I have set up for the winter an apparatus whereby 6 cobs of field corn are presented to keep the squirrels fat and full of calories to keep warm through the winter. The droppings of which, will most likely sprout a new crop of field corn for the winter. Exhibit A:


Ok, so as the squirrels are chowing down, I have to get to the car and pass about 3 feet from where they are munchin'. This happens every day when I have to pick up Robin from work, or go to the store, or both. And the bigger, fatter one is getting pretty used to it. He doesn't scamper away anymore when I pass by. He just eyeballs me and chews his corn kernel. After the squirrel feeding apparatus is empty, I let it remain so for a few days, so that they'll not be so damn lazy and actually clean up the massive mess of kernels they've left on the ground. I know I'm gonna be stuck with "volunteer" corn popping up this spring, but I'd like to keep it at a minimum. So today, I'm passing by, and there's fatty, munching away on a kernel that he got off the ground, eyeballing me like I owe him something. So I go into the garage and pick up one of the old cobs that I replaced a long time ago. (No, I don't know why I'm saving them) This cob has like three kernels on it. I walked over to the fence... held up the cob.. and Fatty McSquirrel hopped right on over and ate from it as I held it for him. It may not mean much to most of you, but to me that was the highlight of my week. And i am certain that by summer, I'll have him and his friends eating out of my hand.

Here's my long-term goal: I'm going to be meditating outside with every sunrise once spring comes. I'm going to do so with a bowl of corn/raisins/whatever in my lap. I'm wanting the rabbits that share my yard and the squirrels to climb into my lap and eat from it. Just as long as they don't chomp into the wrong nuts.

I think you would like Montana, except it's all small town. Even the big towns are small town.
See, where I live I can drive to the city in 30 minutes. Or in 30 minutes I can be way the fork up in the hills.
This way when I wanna see a show or a concert, or the Cirque, I'm there.
Or if I wanna listen to the trees talk among them selves, I'm there too!


One day, if good fortune is with me, one day I'll have the opportunity to visit Iowa. There are some natural places in the plains I'd live to experience.


Good luck with the animals. It's good to notice the little things like this, because that's where life's true power is.

LOL You're gonna be sitting there with your bowl of nuts and grains with your eyes closed and a squirrel sitting on your shoulder and a big damn owl is gonna come out of nowhere to snatch the squirrel and the squirrel is gonna dig his claws into your shoulder and hold on for dear life and the owl is gonna drag you half way across the yard before a hunk of flesh rips out your shoulder. YEEOUCH!



A lot of people get what some photographers and bird watchers call 'hawk fever'. Once you get it, you can't get seem to get your eyes on enough birds of prey.

talk about becoming one wih nature!


that 'hawk fever thing happened to me when I was six or seven... It hasn't quit yet

i was so obsessed that when my family went to rocamadour, france, twenty years ago to vist their famous steps involved in catholic pilgrimage tradition, I whined until I got them to go here. The expirience is still one of my most vivid childhood memories: From a Kestrel hanging out on my mom's head for a little while, to a vulture that came damn near my weight walking across my legs, to sitting on a fence made of railroad ties while a perigrine flew between my legs @ 80 mph.

If anyone's ever in the area durring the first third of the year, it's well worth the trip, and the 8 euro entrance fee.

Great stories TJ. Thoroughly enjoyed them!

We used to have a golden eagle in my neighbor hood that we would see taking prairie dogs, but sadly it is no longer around, as it's food source was relocated to make way for development.

There was also once a badger that made a home in my backyard, but due to the fact that it could have mauled my neighbors kids (or me, frankly) I had to have it removed.