wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

My first, and so far only, close encounter with a rattlesnake -- a couple of years ago -- was memorable. I heard the rattle, turned, saw a large rattlesnake ready to strike a yard away or less, called the dogs to down-stay, stood still, looked at her (why "her" I don't know), felt no fear. Half my mind was occupied with the practical "what I will do if bitten" and the other half with how lucky I was to see this snake up close. The snake, though coiled and ready, seemed unaggressive. Perhaps she recognized that I wasn't aggressive either. Some time later, I turned and walked away. We don't have to be at odds with the natural world.

And we do tend to be at odds with it. At police headquarters in the closest large Texas city, there's a map of the city on which natural areas -- with wildflowers and birds -- are designated "WASTE AREAS." In other words, these are areas in which we (superior) beings have not yet taken control!

My bird story:

While on a golf course in Palm Springs, we noticed a bit of a flurry in the sky: a hawk with a struggling little black bird in its claws, was being harrassed by a second little black bird, which was obviously trying to get the hawk to drop its mate. The second bird, as far as we could see, could only sporadically interrupt the hawk's flight. Still, quite brave.

I've heard a hawk's advantage, besides size, is momentum and stealth--dropping from above to grab its prey. The hawk would be unable to catch a small bird without that advantage, ie, in close-in flying. So it's possible, if the captured bird was still able to fly, the rescue might have worked.

Hawks there in the desert have nests in the tops of the tall palms.

seems to me the artists are generally failing us at looking at things with wonder

Can you ask your guest why geese honk when they migrate?

Leonard! "disgusting" is not a good word for rodents - they are really amazing if you watch them -

My bird story: on Thanksgiving Day, we saw a hawk carry a squirrel up to a tree branch over my parents' yard, and proceed to feast on him. Very exciting and dramatic.