A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, err...Grocery Store

I'd like to take a break from the vacation slides and tell you about something that I saw today. Because I think it's important that there are people like this in the world.

You may remember my post "Of Coyotes and Common Sense" where I discussed the growing problem of wildlife displaced by urban development. It's happening everywhere and we have to do something to halt the relentless urbanization of land that many species desperately need to thrive.

The honey bee crisis is a perfect example. Who knew the were so integral to our own survival as a species? We have lived in ignorance all this time, quietly reaping the benefits of the honey bee's industry and fortitude. Only now that their existence, and thus, our own, is threatened, do we appreciate them.

We have to find a way to live in harmony with our animal and insect brethren. Our survival depends upon it.

So anyway...

This afternoon, I turned out of our subdivision onto the very busy thoroughfare that borders it. Traffic whizzes down this road at all hours of the day and night. Immediately I could see that there was something going on in the road ahead, but I couldn't quite make out what exactly the trouble was until I pulled abreast of two men and a car stopped dead in the lane opposite mine.

The men were standing in the road protecting an unspeakably beautiful red-tailed hawk.

Their car was parked several feet behind them, blocking traffic. One man motioned traffic around and through, while the other one made sure nobody veered into the lane where the hawk stood. He shielded the bird with his body, arms and legs akimbo. He wore an expresion that was a mixture of sadness and determination.

I am not exaggerating when I say that these men were risking their lives to save this bird.

I've seen red tailed hawks before. They are plentiful in our neighborhood, but they are normally seen from afar, soaring high above the tree tops in search of succulent squirrels or other small prey. I've never been privileged to see a wild one this close. He was absolutely breathtaking, from his brilliant red tail feathers to the fierce and startling intelligence in his hooded eyes.

He stood majestically in the road with an air of calm authority. He was not afraid. And that's what was so frightening to me and, I presume, to the men who stood gaurd over him. There was a dead rabbit in the road, and apparently, he was determined to make a snack out of it, traffic, or no traffic.

I rolled down the window and asked if I could help. The man thanked me, but said that he had already called the Forestry Commission. They were on their way to assist in relocating the hawk. I wanted to hug that man for caring, but stupidly, I merely gave him a thumb's up and a tremulous smile. He smiled back, but his eyes were still sad.

When I came back, the hawk, and the men were gone, though the rabbit carcass was still in the road, now pulverized almost beyond recognition.

I wish I knew what happened. I wish I knew who they were. I wish I knew that they knew...what a wonderful thing they did.

I feel pretty certain that the hawk was saved. Thanks to two ordinary guys who took a moment to help a creature who couldn't help himself; who simply couldn't grasp the danger that he had put himself in by stepping into man's path and putting himself at man's mercy.

That makes me feel good and bad in a way I am somewhat at a loss to describe.

Did I say "ordinary" guys? No..I think extraordinary is more like it.

On behalf of the human race and all of animalkind...Thank You.