Urban Dwellers It’s rare to see a red tailed hawk in the city. In my twenty-five years in Center City Philadelphia, I’ve seen this size bird this close to home, on just a few occasions. Yesterday, Chelsea and I were on our way to her dance class and walking quickly down Third Street. (The week prior we had been a few minutes late and I should share that Chelsea does not like to be late. Generally we arrive places on time, however as a duo we tend to stop and smell flowers, pick up interesting leaves and ponder cloud formations. On occasion this takes precedence over punctuality and as a mother, I am comfortable with that.) This Monday, however, I was urging her along, when she stopped and peered through the gate that surrounds one of our favorite Independence Park gardens. “What is that, Mama?” she said. Now we’re definitely going to be late. “What’s what I said?” and glanced in the general direction that she was looking in. I had slowed my steps but hadn’t yet stopped walking when I saw what looked like the tail of a peacock and decided that the National Park Association had brought in some life like stuffed birds to use as a gimmicky way to promote park history, or alternatively to randomly place around the park as part of their early Halloween decorations. The bird was still and perfectly perched on a signpost as if to draw attention to the sign. “Mama, what is it?” It was real, and it was some kind of hawk. “I think it’s a Red-tailed Hawk, I told her. I’ve seen one just like it around our neighborhood before, but never this close. They’re usually up in the trees.” We didn’t say another word. We just stayed and watched the hawk until it flew away. For the record, we were on time to dance class. I guess our time with the hawk just felt slower than it actually was.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 13:08:22 +0000
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