I think air conditioning is one of the world’s greatest inventions, but it gives me claustrophobia. I go stir crazy when I can’t hear cicadas and songbird calls and smell the lilies.
Even on the muggiest days this summer I’ve closed the door to my office, covered up all the vents and air returns and flung open the windows so I could be part of nature for a few hours. My computer gasps for air, paper gets a little limp and the carpet feels damp under my feet, but I don’t care because the fresh air lifts my spirits.
If my windows had been closed yesterday I would’ve missed the pair of Red-tailed Hawks teaching their youngster to soar.
The three of them were cruising (and screaming) just above the oak trees that surround our backyard.
If you look toward the lower-right in the photo below you can see a dragonfly coasting along with one of the hawks:
Red-tailed Hawks mate for life. The young hawk will stay with his parents for about 2 months to learn the tricks of the trade, and then he’ll go off on his own.
