In my neck of the woods in Siouxland there seems to be a single or pair of Cooper’s Hawks that live about the area. I see one, rarely both, flying above or landing nearby, sometimes closer than I personally would like.
The weather this particular day had been off and on with a rain shower, although mostly off in the immediate area. So I was surprised when the hawk showed up looking a little ruffled and damp. Possibly getting caught in a down pout nearby and then finding a place to do a little drying off. The towel guy wasn’t available this particular day.
I enjoy watching nature in Siouxland and have begun spending more time doing that, as well as spending time at local parks and preserves. That said, I was never really interested as a youth in watching those Wild Kingdom television show that showed nature in all its glory, including the lesser creatures being eaten by the bigger creatures.
As A friend recently said, that’s life in the animal kingdom. And I get that. I just don’t have to watch it. And so when it’s up close and personal outside a window, nature becomes all too real.
I didn’t see the take down, but watched through a window at the back of a house and of course, shot a few photographs. I quietly tried to slip out a side door to continue shooting, but not through a window, but the hawk was having none of that as it probably wanted to defend its mid morning snack and continued its meal elsewhere.
Spending time outdoors in Siouxland that is devoid of people has been a bit of a blessing in that I am seeing, or rather, paying more attention to nature around me when I am out. Not in a hurry to be anywhere, I sit and watch and have been pleasantly surprised.
I tend to go places early and generally during the week, avoiding crowds at nature preserves and parks for the most part, although sometimes it just doesn’t matter. When it’s all said and done, I hope people will appreciate what there is rather than what they no longer have or have missed. But knowing human nature, that’s unlikely. Animals use what they need and call it good. Humanity just isn’t built the same way.
I live in the Siouxland area that encompasses a wide swatch of land in northwest Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota. The people that inhabit this area are generous folk and your basic honest, Midwestern people you like to have as neighbors. I explore the area and share observations, mostly photographic, sometimes through video, and and short text. All images and video are copyrighted material of the author.
Jerry Mennenga, Sioux City, Iowa
jerrylmennenga@yahoo.com
lostinsiouxland 