The kestrels are back in our neighborhood again. Last year they nested on our roof - a location which, given that we live in the inner city, is not as likely as you might think. Every morning at about 6 AM, we awoke to the sight and sounds of two beautiful hawks. ( Usually the sight and sound of them dismembering a squirrel. If you haven’t seen a raptor tear at its prey before you’ve had your morning coffee, you’ve missed a treat.) Despite the scary morning show, we loved the urban Wild Kingdom aspects of sharing the yard with these gorgeous creatures. The swooping, the cawing (the unmistakeable hawk-like cawing), the refreshing absence of squirrels in the garden - we loved every minute of it.

They only stayed for a little while, but now they’re back, two trees over, just a little ways down the street. Their cries still wake me up - just no carnage-o-vision. I’m so pleased that something very wild can live in this place, shaking up the usual mix of rats and pigeons and squirrels. I’ll try to post pictures if I can capture the speedy little buggers.

In other fauna sightings, the other day Mr. Man and I saw a giant crow eating a rat in the middle of the road. Is that a bad omen or what?