Squirrel Nests and Red Tailed Hawks

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It all began with my love for squirrels. They are abundant, acrobatic, bandits. Where do they sleep? As it turns out they build nests in trees. They weave together sticks to frame their spherical homes and they insulate them with leaves. I've read that they have a front door and a back door for emergency escapes. During the winter they prefer hollows of trees, yet, when these are not available they stick to their limb nests. If you take a gander in the woods on a fall day, pause a while and you should hear what sounds like shuffling in the brush....all around you. This is the sound of squirrels readying their winter bungalows.

Once I discovered this awesome fact I started looking for squirrel nests during my morning commute. They are easy to spot during winter, just look for large clumps of leaves on the bare limbs of deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves at the end of their growing season).

It was during a typical morning commute when I noticed a very large bird perched on the limb of a quaking aspen. Was this an owl perhaps? Did anyone else see this? The more I looked the more of them I saw each morning. The birds were always on different limbs, trees, and facing in different directions. This was AWESOME; a juxtaposition of metal and wildlife.

I was slightly disappointed to learn (after watching a documentary on owls) that owls typically hide out during the day because they are preyed upon by hawks. As it turns out I have been seeing Red Tailed Hawks, A.K.A the kings of the day. Many migrate during the frigid months but some stay even during the severest of conditions.

So there is a lot to see whether you are trucking along at 75, stuck in traffic or on your way to a family reunion which you are not too excited about, you just have to be aware.

http://www.greglasley.net/images/RA/Red-tailed-Hawk-0019.jpg