Abira Siddiq

12/4/2013
Period: 3rd
English AP
Living Like A Hawk
A hawk is fierce. Who knows what she thinks? She sleeps in dense group o
f bushes, or perched in trees where she cannot be easily seen. As she sleeps her
head is turned around and tucked into her feathers of her back. Sometimes if yo
u see a hawk sleeping it looks morbidly headless. She seems to have a great visi
on and powerful hunting skills. She hunts small animals like snakes, lizards, fi
sh, mice, rabbits, squirrels, and any other animal found on the ground. Once she
perceives her prey she captures the fearing animal with her sharp claws holding
it in place, eating as a whole or ripping it apart. It is illegal to kill a Haw
k since its a predatory animal. If done so there will be serious consequences like
be charged. A hawk is protected for a reason and it needs to be safe from harm.

And once, writes Adam Monacelli-- once, a hand surgeon shot a hawk to de
ath in his backyard because a hawk was eyeing a squirrel that he and his wife ha
d raised. By trying to get rid of the hawk he started yelling and throwing a cro
wbar at it. Frustrated, he then got out a shotgun and shot the hawk dead since t
he hawk didn't leave its place. He was arrested afterwards. I would like to have
seen that Hawk from the area before it was shot. Was the hawk trying to get a m
eal or was it just seemingly just looking at the squirrel? Or did the hawk wante
d to eat what it had its eye on, targeting the squirrel, waiting for the right t
ime, and finally tearing the flesh apart?
I have been reading about Hawks because I saw one last month. I stared a
t the Hawk unemotionally, who stared back at me, we looked as if time just stopp
ed.
Ten minutes away from my house, through the small houses, in between a l
ong road, and not far from the highway, is North Park Woods, scattered with beau
tiful colorful trees that turn orange, red, and brown during the fall. North Par
k Village is also called Oak Woods; the surroundings are mostly oak trees, as th
ey lose their green chlorophyll the leaves often produce brilliant colors. In th
e winter, if you look closely they are beginning to die off, with the freezing t
emperature; falling slowly off the trunk of the tree and landing it on the soft
ground, buried beneath the snow. In the summer, the woods shine through the tree
displaying its green color. The ground blooms with different types of colorful
flowers adding more beauty to the woods.
So, it was autumn, I started walking in the cold air, early in the morni
ng. I came across many houses that were big and small, seeing some people sittin
g on their front porch outside as they watched cars pass by and looking at me as
I continued strolling to my destination. Once reached I silently started to loo
k around, it was quiet, all I could hear is my shoes crushing the crisp leaves a
nd the hallowing of the wind. Most trees dead laid on the ground. I then heard a
thrilling, raspy scream. But I chose to ignore it and continued going further i
nto the woods. I suddenly came across an oak tree. The leaves were covered with
red, green, orange and brown spots all over it. This tree looked very beautiful.
I stretched my hand out to catch one that has fallen slowly landing into my han
d. The leaf was soft as I continued to examine it for a few minutes, I gently pu
t it in my pocket, then carrying on.
The sun was coming out. Shining above the trees and entering light in t
he woods. I looked around and there were no animals in sight. Confused I examine
d my surroundings. It was like there was nothing here except trees. I turned aro
und and looked up. What I saw was completely unimaginable-it caught my eye, I sa
w a hawk who sat silently and patiently on the oak tree looking straight at me a
s I continued to stare back with wide eyes and mouth open.
Hawk! Id never seen one wild before. It was a female since it was very larg
e. It had black and white strips, very broad, rounded wings, and a short white t
ail. Her face was vicious, strong, and watching me with her sharp eyes.
Our look was as if two soldiers, or allies, in a battlefield; thinking w
hich one should make the first move. It was like we were the only two in the wor
ld. Staring into her was like I was in her head. Watching myself be the target;
thinking of ways not to let me escape. I continued to stare not making any sudde
n movements. It was like I was frozen. The hawk tore its eyes away from mine and
started to turn her head right and left looking around the woods.Doing the same
thing I heard someone moving, the sound coming from the bush not far from me. W
hen it was only seconds what felt like hours, there was a loud scream. I turned
back and the hawk left the tree and was gone with her wings moving rapidly headi
ng towards the noise. I followed and saw with open eyes a rabbit. I gasped as I
saw what I was witnessing. Another shriek as I knew the rabbit was going to die.
The hawk seizing the rabbit with her sharp claws as she held her prey in place.
The scream for help faintly lowered as she dug her claws into the rabbit. The p
rey now covered in blood; the flesh on the body now gone and finally dead joinin
g the autumn leaves.
Who knows what shes searching for in her mind next? What type of animal wi
ll be her next meal? Can any small animal hide from the hawk and continue to liv
e its life without being eaten? She was definitely strong and no match for any o
f the small animals out in the woods. There was a small pond not far from the wo
ods. I walked toward it leaving the Hawk in her place. The water glistening from
the sun. It looked peaceful. A few minutes later, I headed back hoping the Hawk
didn't leave. In the same place where I was standing before it was I gave her a
t last look as she was beginning to fly away, her wings moving to a different de
stination. Disappointed I waited for her arrival to come back again.
Was she heading somewhere else? Time flew by as the sun was beginning to
set. More animals like the squirrels came out as they knew that their violent p
redator was gone.
It was like the Hawk and I were connected somehow but separation cut us
off. I blinked and my head started to spin with many thoughts about the interes
ting creature.
Please do not tell me about approach- avoidance conflicts. I am telling you
as like I was inside the Hawks head for a minute, and she was in mine. Something
just clicked and we were facing one another not knowing of what to do and whats go
ing to happen.I ever wondered if the Hawk regretted killing the rabbit but by th
e actions and looks of it it was clearly shown that the Hawk didn't show any sig
n of sympathy.
I would like to learn how to live like a Hawk. I came to Oak woods to le
arn how to live life. That is, I continue to think of what I can learn from a wi
ld animal on how to live-shall I watch my surroundings with sharp eyes, notice e
verything, watch any sudden movements and dangerously killing an animal for surv
ival? Maybe there is no choice, its a reason.
Can we live like Hawks? Will we be able to have no mercy over others to
fulfill ourselves with what we need to survive or let our target live as we cont
inue to let ourselves go and decide to die and fade from the Earth? A hawk is fi
erce, quick, and strong. Its meant to be done, be over with and move on when it tar
gets its prey.
We could you know, live strong and fierce fully. Sometimes we have to do
things in order to survive like sacrificing to full fill our needs. Are we able
to be strong and take control of what is needed to be done in order to live? I
think in life you need to make the right choices and take action instead of wait
ing and letting time fly by. You cant just keep making decisions and holding on to
them. When its time for something to happen then it must be done. Looking up at the
dark sky heading back, a smile crept up on my face as I saw the hawk flying hig
h above spreading its large wings letting the animals know what they are up agai
nst.
Works Cited
"All About Birds." Frequently Asked Questions: Hawk and Heron Nests at Cornell.
N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.
Monacelli, Adam. "Man Charged with Killing Hawk to Help Squirrel." Fish Head. N.
p., 10 Feb. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.
"Red-tailed Hawk." Red-tailed Hawk. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.