I happened to cut across a grassy patch in Cedar-Riverside and saw gray feathers strewn about in a circle. I looked up and sure enough the carcass of a pigeon was frozen there on a branch.
Apparently a Cooper’s hawk is going about its business there, surrounded by cars and trucks and pedestrians. It might have pulled off this kill without being seen by anyone at all. It’s fun to notice things like this. I like how birding allows you to reconstruct a scene from a small observation. In this case it was the ruthless struggle for existence playing out beside a bustling street.
This winter feels a little bleak. But it is my imperative to thrive under all conditions. So if long spells of cold and dark are punctuated by moments of truth and clarity like this, I’ll be thrilled.
Also: the Minnehaha Creek
pseudoisaac 