Friday, February 13, 2015

"Available"

upon your wing a blush - female cardinal

"Available"

"Is love a tender thing?" William Shakespeare

Winter weary perhaps but upon your wing
a blush, a flush of red;
crested and full of song - male cardinal

a promise

of springtime and tender love
from one crested and full of whistling song

who lost his mate of late

to rapacious rival; swooped in low and fast
and seized her heart;

but surely

as Aquarius makes way for Pisces, so to
does winter's ever-beating march advance toward spring.


by Margaret Bednar, February 13, 2015


Rapacious Rival aka Immature Red-Shouldered Hawk 

I was thrilled to watched this hawk (which I think is a young red-shouldered hawk - correct me if I'm wrong) perch and occasionally course through my backyard woodlot this afternoon.  And boy did he (or she) shock me when he decided to glide over my new bird feeder and go after a female cardinal!   The hawk was gliding much faster than she took off - but they flew out of my view of the window frame and I can only hope she made it to the bushes.

I KNOW, hawks need to survive too, but I did move my birdhouse to a safe alcove by my other window and a few more bushes and trees for security.

All photos were taken from inside my house.

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Kerry Says - Is Love a Tender Thing".


12 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

What glorious visitors you get to your feeders, Margaret. Just beautiful. I, too, hope the cardinal got away, and am glad you moved the feeder to a more protected spot. Our yard is full of birds too, but non as exotic as yours. Though we do have a flock of mourning doves, and blue jays are a constant.

Susan said...

Oh those raptors! ANd the many faceted human nature that loves hard and long, and then again . . .

Jazzbumpa said...

i'm rooting for the cardinal
but i have my doubts

here is my close encounter with a hawk

http://jazzbumpa.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-hell-frida-y-alfred-hitchcock.html


cheers
jzb

Susie Clevenger said...

Oh my, nature is nature. No matter how much I know its all about survival, it breaks my heart when I see it. Beautiful photos and poem.

brudberg said...

The nature is so rich in metaphors ,. Those rapacious suitors can seize the hearts of many..

Maude Lynn said...

Beautiful write, Margaret. And, beautiful photos.

my heart's love songs said...

the harsh reality of nature... either way a loss.

she certainly is beautiful! wonderful photographs as well as your words, Margaret.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Oh, I do hope this story has a happy ending and the male cardinal finds a new mate!

Scarlet said...

What lovely pictures Margaret, to see that hawk and cardinals ~

I hope the hawk found another prey, not the lovely birds ~

Grace

Outlawyer said...

Amazing photos, Margaret! And wonderful poem. We see some of this happening here--right now we have both a fisher (a kind of otter-y type animal) and a hare living around the house--I'm not sure the hare will make it--k.

Mark Kerstetter said...

Hope--and maybe spring too-is the thing with feathers. Love your photos. I don't think I've ever seen a female cardinal quite like the one in your photo. The ones I've seen are much more tawny. Yours is so rosy-peachy-coral and cream colored.

Jennifer Wagner said...

What fantastic photos, Margaret! I wish I could get some this good of the birds who visit us. What a talented photographer you are!