Hawk Attack!

By: Kathy Fisfis of 298 Surfsong
 

My husband and I have enjoyed biking on Kiawah for the past 23 years. In addition to taking in the natural beauty of the Island, it affords us the opportunity to enjoy Mother Nature and all her critters up close and personal.  Well, today's bike ride yielded a bit more than we bargained for.   As I was exploring the shops in Charleston, my husband Nick had only his bike for wheels.  No problem.  This is not an uncommon occurrence and certainly not a hardship.  Nick went for a bike ride. As he was approaching the cul de sac on Doral Open and minding his own business, he noticed a Red Tailed Hawk above w/dinner hanging limply from his beak.  The Hawk went into the trees and disappeared.  Moments later, he reappeared, sans dinner, and started to circle very low, approximately 10-15' above my husband's thick curly locks.  Nick quickly sensed this was not the norm, feared that he was about to be dumped upon, turned around and headed back to Surfsong.  Unbeknownst to him, the Hawk was now behind him and in a blink of an eye, Nick felt as though he had been hit w/a rock in the back of his head. He turned to see the Hawk soaring away.  Whew!  When he went to wipe his brow, he noticed that there was something sticky on his face.  He was bleeding.  There were a couple of folks walking their dog and Nick said....I think I was just attacked by a Hawk!  The response was the expected WOW!  Am I bleeding?  ARE YOU BLEEDING?  Buddy, you better come home w/us!    Nick thanked them and said that we live very close by and headed for home.  By this time, he was a red mess and after using his tee shirt to apply pressure to his numerous wounds, he looked as though he emerged on the losing end of a fierce Paint Ball Battle.    All's well that ends well.  Hubby is fine w/only minor scratches to his scalp.  For that I am eternally grateful.  In addition, he had the presence of mind not to bleed all over the carpets.  For that, too, I am grateful.  Although we live in suburban Philadelphia (Wayne, PA), we have lots of wildlife that call our yard home.  Deer and fox, birds of all kinds, skunks and ground hogs and, yes, Red Tailed Hawks.  These Hawks have careened into our kitchen windows on several occasions, were stunned for a few minutes and then flew away.  We have observed them for hours at a time, while they were enjoying 'lunch' on a nearby tree.  Just last month, one was on the ground for two and a half hours just feet from my window, devouring a squirrel at his leisure.  They nest in our woods and raise their young there, year after year.  I've had one hit my windshield while driving on Rt. 202, but never have they had the audacity to attack us personally!  I've heard of cats scratching, dogs biting, snakes charming, lions mauling, sharks and alligators and bears attacking, but a Hawk??  If anyone can shed any light on this, it would be greatly appreciated.  I suspect Nick was in the vicinity of a nest w/young, but he wasn't climbing the tree!  We don't wear helmets, but are seriously considering hats, at the very least.

- submitted by Kathy Fisfis

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