The Bovine Bugle

A winged visitor hangs around the farm

The past couple of days I had seen a different type of hawk perching in the maple right in front of the barn. I assumed with the intense cold spell that the bird was hanging around hoping to catch one of the many birds that are around the house and barns throughout the winter. I did some searching on the web and found out that it is a Northern Goshawk.

I was checking on one of the outside stock tanks as it filled when I found a spot where the Northern Goshawk must have caught a small bird. A circle of feathers was left to show that the Goshawk had been successful in its hunting.

Later in the afternoon, Noah spotted the Goshawk on a barrel near the chicken coop. We were splitting firewood at the time, and when I went to get the loader tractor to push the split wood into the pile I was treated to an awesome sight. As I sat on the tractor on the open side of the dairy barn, the Norther Goshawk came gliding past me, a mouse in one of its claws, and in hot pursuit was a Red-tailed Hawk. The Goshawk actually flew through the dairy barn, with the Red-tailed Hawk going over the roof to try and catch the Northern Goshawk on the other side.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

Where's Franklin? Click here to learn all about it.

Learn about other organic dairy farmers and the Organic Valley family of farms.

ABOUT THE BOVINE BUGLE

Subscribe by using the box at the upper left.

To unsubscribe, send a note to chalvorson@stonyfield.com

VISIT OUR NEW BABY BABBLE BLOG
The parents at Stonyfield Farm are chatting with each other about the trials and tribulations of raising infants and toddlers. Perhaps you'll want to join the conversation at Baby Babble?

Posted by Blogger Chris at February 7, 2005 11:38 AM