Add a possum to the list…

Squirrels and rabbits and mice and chipmunks and now… possum!

I got a shovel, picked it up and started toward the fence to toss it over into the weeds only to realize that it is way too heavy to hoist it over a 5 foot fence.  Put it down, step away and Jake comes over – not to get it but just because I’m there. I said: “Jake, what should I do?”  As I was waiting for an answer it was unusually quiet and I heard a strange noise almost like a clicking.  Again, I asked Jake: “What’s that?”  As I turned toward the house, down swooped Mr. Hawk thinking, I suppose, I had just provided him with a free dinner!  Jake did his normal chase and Hawk flew away.  After texting my friend Angie (who was the recipient of these lovely pictures) I found out that hawks DO eat dead animals…  I didn’t know that – thought they just caught their prey and ate it.  Maybe Jake and Hawk should partner up since he likes to catch and kill things and doesn’t eat them (thank god) and Hawk will eat what he kills!

Here is some interesting info about the Red Tailed Hawk with sound…..yes, it is the sound we heard. 

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds – Red Tailed Hawk

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Hawk

I don’t see a hawk every day… or every other day…  sometimes I don’t see one for weeks at a time.    I remember the first time I really took notice.  Teddy and I were out front of the house.  I was working in the garage and he was snoozing in the front yard.  He was not doing well and I was worried about him.  Then all of a sudden I heard a commotion and a hawk swooped down I swear not 20 feet above the ground and then flew up and over the pine trees.  I thought at that time it was unusual and that the hawk was trying to tell me something.

Since then I’ve seen many hawks – sometimes not for weeks at a time but then just when I feel I need affirmation about something – there it is..  a hawk telling me I made the right decision and everything will be ok.  At one point I researched the symbolism of the hawk and this kind of summarizes what I found.

The hawk is a messenger bird.  Usually when we see a hawk it means to pay attention because a message is coming. Hawks represent clear sightedness.  They bring courage, wisdom, illumination, creativity and truth and give us the ability to see the larger picture in life. They can help to overcome problems and make wise use of opportunities.  This is the hawk’s 'medicine'.   When the same animal keeps coming to us in real life or in a dream, it is bringing it's medicine to you.   The hawk brings a message, a good one, to let us know you are on the right path and whatever problems we are wrestling with we will solve because hawks medicine has been given to you. 

Yesterday, after laying Olivia to rest we walked to the house and were chatting in the driveway and a large bird swooped by and went behind some large trees…  you guessed it…  Hawk was bringing me a message that everything would be ok….

I’m sure by that time Olivia was on the other side running free and playing with her pack…  ready for a new adventure…
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Added December 2012

I’ve written about hawks before. They speak to me… tell me when I’m on the right path…. If I wonder if I’m making a good decision or heading the right way, a hawk will fly over and I’ll feel good about it! Doesn’t matter if I’m on the road, at home in the house or in the yard.

Anyway, yesterday I was driving to work and merging onto Highway 41 from County Road II. I saw a hawk to the right who had been sitting in a tree but was taking off. He flew up just a little, swerved to the left coming in front of me and then continued to the left. As I watched I was watching the highway. I knew I had a separate lane to get onto the highway but as I turned my gaze to the left I saw a truck (someone late for work maybe?) speeding up beside me as I was merging… Had I not watched the hawk I most likely would not have seen the truck that was in my blind spot.

Hmmm… thanks Hawk for pointing that out to me!

 

 

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