A good reminder, though not necessarily a pleasant one, that nature isn’t sweet, gentle, serene, just, or romantic—or for the squeamish. Which is something country people have always known.

The day ended early, and as badly as can be imagined, for one of the yard’s House Sparrows.

Two Cooper’s Hawks, a sub-adult and a juvenile, have been visiting the yard. This morning the juvenile flew in at a little past 7:00. It spent a few minutes perched on the north fence and then dropped into the tangle of dry asters, goldenrod, and switch grass, where it crashed through the cover, scattering the small birds. After failing to catch anything it left the yard.

Around 30 minutes later, I saw two or three small birds flee the tangle, flying low. One didn’t flee quickly enough, though, and the Coopie emerged on foot seconds later with its catch. The partial view I had suggested a House Sparrow, and I was relieved that the prey wasn’t the Carolina Wren, or one of the White-throated or Song Sparrows, or a junco.

When the hawk flew onto the north fence, I had a clear view of a female House Sparrow, apparently still alive. I found I enjoyed my patch of urban habitat less in that moment as I imagined the sparrow’s last few seconds of life.

Reasons for Happiness

They are too many to count, but two recent ones stand out:

Though I fully expect to be disappointed in him once he’s in office, I was elated at Obama’s election. There’s at least hope now that the county will follow a more environmentally responsible path.

On November 7, I saw a Pied-billed Grebe in Jefferson Lake, the first one I’ve seen in Forest Park this season. I haven’t seen one since but am optimistic that one will winter there.

Week in review

This week’s cold front was very good for Forest Park.

On Wednesday morning (the 12th), a walk around Deer Lake and Steinberg Prairie on the way in to work turned up nine sparrow species:

1. Eastern Towhee, 1 male and 1 female
2. Field Sparrow, 6
3. Chipping Sparrow (SP), 1
4. White-throated Sparrow
5. White-crowned Sparrow
6. Fox Sparrow, 1
7. Swamp Sparrow, 3–4
8. Song Sparrow
9. Dark-eyed Junco, 3

Also in the park on Wednesday:

• Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2
• Carolina Wren, 2*
• Orange-crowned Warbler, 1–2
• Belted Kingfisher (heard only)
• American Goldfinch

*The Carolina Wrens were calling to each other. I heard a trill behind me and to my right (I never did see this bird), which was immediately followed by two sharp chips. The chipping bird was in front of me in plain view. The sequence was repeated every 5 or 6 seconds; the trilling bird solicited the response, and the chipping bird always replied. They were still at it when I left, and I could hear them as I crossed the Victorian footbridge and approached the boardwalk.

A job with a rigid schedule would be intolerable—how could I take the time to savor what I see in the park? Fortunately mine has flexible hours.

Today

I just saw a Cooper’s Hawk fly across the alley into the silver maple in the yard behind us (1:14 p.m.).

The cold front that brought sparrows to Forest Park also brought some to the back yard. This morning there were 7 White-throated Sparrows, 1 Song, 2 Dark-Juncos, and a big treat, a female Eastern Towhee. I’ve discovered that playing my dulcimer near the kitchen window lets me watch the yard birds at the same time.