One Less Hawk

 Yesterday when I came home from being out and about, I saw this hawk on the ground under the hydro pole on the property line between Fred Gingerich and Amos Fisher. I couldn't see any reason of why it would be dead, but it was dead. The bird stank a little bit, but that might be their natural smell. After all they eat alive stuff like snakes, birds and squirrels etc. 

A couple of hours later Erma came for a call and I mentioned this hawk. She remembered watching this graceful bird come flying in over the tree tops, whistling between his teeth and land on that hydro pole. But now it was dead and stank even more, plus a number of flies were devouring it. We didn't know what to do but we knew we had to do something or breath in that stink for ages to come. Nor did we know if this is a protected specie and should we report it and let the Animal Service deal with the bird? I decided to find out and so I called in. I gave them the information and was told they will call me back later.

About half an hour later I got the call and the conversation went something like this: "Did you say the dead hog got electrocuted because he fell off the hydro pole?"

"No," I said, "This is a bir-r-r-rd. It is a H-A-W-K! The other end of the phone line suppressed a giggle. She further asked if it is dead and is it in my yard? I said, "Yes. What are we supposed to do with it?" By this time we were both laughing. She asked me again if the bird is dead and in my yard? And I said yes. Then she told me to throw it in the brier patch or else the Animal Control people will come out, pick it up and charge me $50. I couldn't believe my ears that I am told to throw it in the brier patch. We are not allowed to kill a pesky coon, so why should they not come out to make sure I didn't kill that graceful hawk, that hawk that eats snakes and eye-balls me after the snake is down in his stomach? Anyway I made sure I am hearing right and had her repeat the instructions of throwing it in the brier patch. Just as I made sure she is hearing me right, that it is not a dead hog but a hawk. We had our giggle fit and hung up.
   

I called Erma and she came with her shovel. We decided to give it a decent burial instead of throwing it in the brier patch.

We chose a soft spot on the bank of the creek.

Then she went after the dead hawk...

put him in the hole...

covered him up.

The first thing I did this morning was open the shades to see if no other beast uncovered and consumed the hawk. But it is still as we left it. It sadden me a bit to bury this beautiful hawk. I love to watch them soar and whistle through their teeth and land on a hydro pole, waiting for a slight movement to pounce upon. All the squirrels and lizards and little birds freeze... It is all a part of nature.