The Bird Feeder

The Tufted Titmouse, with its little mohawk, takes one safflower seed out of the feeder, flies to the tree, and taps the seed against the branch, cracking the shell to retrieve the nutty flesh.  Then the titmouse flies back to the feeder, retrieves one seed, and flies back to the tree again, eating one seed at a time until it is full.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk stands on his captured Morning Dove, shaking it occasionally to check for life.  Once the hawk is satisfied that its prey is dead, it begins the ritual of plucking feathers while constantly surveying the yard for threats.  It looks up, to its right, to its left; it is safe and the plucking resumes.  All the other birds have left the yard, the squirrels scattered as well.  It is empty and quiet except for the hawk and its dead, plucked dove.  Now the hawk, starting with a leg, begins digging into the flesh.  Tearing piece by piece, the scene turns bloody.  When the hawk has devoured enough of the dove, it flies back to its nest, carrying the carcass with it, leaving behind a circular patch of plucked feathers on the ground.  The other birds slowly return back to the feeder as down feathers start to float away in the breeze.

Your window can be your personal nature show, if only you turn the TV off.