Take a walk on the wild side -- NYC

Yesterday morning was a glorious morning for a stroll through Central Park. Snow from the storm a couple of days ago lay on the ground. The sun was out. The air, while crisp on my face, couldn't penetrate the layers of clothing. I was on my way to a rainwater harvesting seminar sponsored by the Council on the Environment for NYC.

Basically, things were zippidy do-da-ing my way. I think I might even have been humming a happy tune despite myself -- something that happens, sadly, when I'm far from feeling sadly.

All of the sudden, from the high branches of an oak tree about 20 feet to my right, a hawk dropped down looking for breakfast, courtesy of a gray squirrel zippidy do-da-ing its way around the base of the tree. There was a sharp flurry of feathers and fur.

When it ended, the squirrel skittered about three feet up the tree, leaving the hawk standing, embarrassed, talon deep in snow. The hawk was doing its best "cat falls off counter but meant to do that" posturing. Up the tree, the squirrel was giving it a major ass chewing.

The hawk ignored the verbal abuse, waited about 10 seconds (an acceptable amount of "I meant to do that" time), looked at me, puffed its feathers and flew into a nearby tree, where it perched, back to the still bitching squirrel.

Zippidy do-da!