Hawk Play

Quote of the day: “We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” — Charles Schaefer

2 Young Hawks Land on Porch Railing

Today I got up early to travel up to St. Cloud’s Munsinger Clemens Gardens for some photography. While I was there I was once again reminded of the joy of play for all species.

There were two juvenile Swainson’s Hawks (at least I think that’s what they were) that I saw almost immediately upon arrival at the gardens. They flew from treetop to treetop, calling to one another.

As I walked I caught glimpses of them flying here and there and then they landed on the railing of the porch of a small building not too far from the mighty Mississippi River (which the park overlooks).

There was a pine cone on the floor of the porch. I never would have imagined it as a plaything for a hawk until I saw one of the young hawks go after the pine cone again and again, attempting to carry the cone up to it’s perch on the porch railing.

This series of photos (many of them blurred because of the fast movement) tell the story of a hawk at play.