The Cautious Hawk

Within our family, we have always called the bird, Harrier Hawk, and as a child so long ago, I was in awe for their agility in the sky, and how lucky they were not to be killed when feasting on roadkill! They are a secretive bird, which is why I never knew much about them - even their name which is officially, Harrier.

In the spring the Harrier flies in high circles and calls  out a ‘scree’ sound to its mate, or to attract a mate, I have no idea which. I often watch them from our back yard.

The harrier is described as a bird of prey, but I have never seen it actually hunting – even mice, rather it is a scavenger and it cruises the roads looking for animals such as rabbits and other animals that have been run over.  The so-called road-kill.

Once circa 1962 when I was working at Kakahu Forest, Geraldine, a Harrier that had been feeding on road-kill did not manage to fly off in time and hit the edge of my car's windscreen/roof  and was killed instantly!

I stopped because it was an excuse to inspect the bird and found it to be surprisingly light in weight. I did not discard it, but took it back to where I was camping with six other trainees.

Gordie was still asleep in his bed! Much too late to be piling up zeds in bed! So I gave him the dead bird for company! He could not see any humour in the situation!

Fast forward some fifty-one years  when I went for my usual evening patrol to control rabbit pests.

I shot five that evening and one was lying dead in the open, about fifteen metres away from me. I was under some oak trees and saw the cautious swoop of a Harrier. I sat down under the tree to watch what was going to happen.

I don’t think the bird had seen me and he made three or four swoops before landing about three metres from the rabbit. He saw me though as soon as he landed!

He [I have no idea what sex the bird was] just stood there motionless save for what I took for some quick, cautious looks at me.

I sat very still.

Slowly he made steps to the rabbit, keeping a watchful eye on me. He took two pecks at the rabbit’s fur, after each one, he had a quick look at me. I noticed that the feathers on top-back of his head were white, which is something unusual and would identify him.

He stepped over the rabbit and turned so that he could take a peck and then take a good look at me. He did this a few times until I just had to scratch my nose! He saw the movement and did not take another peck – he just stood there looking at me! I guess trying to identify me or what I was.

Stiff bone or running out of patience, I rose to my feet and the instant I moved, the Harrier flew off.

Somehow I expected a bird like that to be prepared to defend it’s food – however this one was timid.

I have no doubt that once I was out of sight, he would have returned to his feast.