There are so many things to love about spring: the colors, the smells, the warmth of the sun…   But another thing Sherry and I love are the sounds.  We open our doors and windows and the house is awash in the sounds of ….. SEX.   What?  You think those birds are just singing because it’s so nice outside?  They’re singing “I’m the best.  I’m a good provider.  I’ll make good babies”.  Whatever song it might take to find a mate and pass on those precious genes.

Ah, but what sweet sounds.  We love the sounds of spring as much as we do the colors.

But let us not forget that nature (or rather Nature) is one giant smorgasbord.   This afternoon, Sherry and I took a long walk through the neighborhood.  We kept an eye out for all the wonderful plants just starting to peek out, and we had a few conversations with friends and neighbors out working in their yards.  As we came back to our house, just as we were a couple of doors down, we saw a HUGE hawk sitting on our fence.  It was at least a foot high.  Gorgeous creature.  And it was about 20 feet from the doves’ nest that you see in the photo above.  Poor thing must have been frightened to death.  But… hawks have to eat, too.   We would rather it weren’t in OUR yard, and on OUR doves, but who are we to say that a dove is better than a hawk.  Or vice versa.    But, as we approached the house, he spread his magnificent wings and flew away.  No lunch today.

Our yard has been designated a wildlife habitat by the Wildlife Federation, so there’s plenty for a hawk to feast on.  The other side of the house has a Carolina Wren nest in the eaves.   And several of the birdhouses house young families.  And the birdbaths are very popular.  So, lots of hawk food.  I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.    We can only hope that he’s a “squirrel-itarian”.

Filed under: Our Garden