Thursday, July 16, 2009

Missing Betty


(Click on the thumbnail for the bigger, better version)

I miss Betty, the red-tailed hawk that so often perched on our roof. We haven’t seen her in months and I think about her frequently. Now keep in mind that we don’t even know if, indeed, our hawk was a Betty, or a Burt. For a little background on how Betty got the name and was assigned a gender, see “Meet Bitchin’ Betty” from Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

The handsome fellow in the photo above has been around a bit lately and does occasionally make use of our roof—sitting in Betty’s spot. But, it’s not the same. Paul Lester posted some observations Tuesday about the way things change no matter how much we wish they wouldn’t. This definitely falls in that category. I had hoped that we would see Betty for many seasons to come, and I catch myself looking for her to return any day now.

Besides, perhaps she will return soon. After all, we saw her most often in late August and through the fall. There may a simple explanation. It's possible that she prefers the hunting elsewhere this time of year. Or, perhaps she has moved on. I don’t want to think about remaining alternatives. Another possibility that I do like is that the handsome fellow who now uses her perch is an offspring. It could be true. I have been told that the hawk I am seeing these days is a young red tail.

Of course, I am romanticizing to avoid unpleasant thoughts. But, I don’t see anything wrong with a little romanticizing now and then to smooth the rough edges of change.

4 comments:

  1. Well, hopefully Bitchin' Betty will make an appearance for you. Perhaps she's moved on to bring a smile to someone else's face and she sent the youngin' for you!

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  2. Paul - I like your story and I'm sticking to it.

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  3. There's lots of explanations, not to worry--off with a mate in a different range, busy raising her young...many, many possibilities! They are rather at the top of their food chain and live pretty long, so thing positively :) MA

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  4. Mary Ann - Your comment is truly comforting and I think more positively. Thank you.

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