A view of the food chain in action.

There was an unusual occurrance outside the kitchen window today. An unusually large bird was sitting on the tree outside, which on closer examination seemed to be some kind of hawk. We normally see cardinals, sparrows, finches, chicadees and juncos.

Looking closer, we saw that it held a sparrow, which it was eating. The hawk, which appeared to be a peregrine falcon according the our bird book, must have seen the sparrow near one of the bird feeders in our yard, swept down on it and carried it to the tree next to our kitchen window. It kept an eye on us while we were taking its picture. When the dog next door came out, the falcon took off--with the sparrow.

We have had bird feeders for many years, but this was the first time we have seen the food chain in action, and the first time we have seen a peregrine falcon up close. They are endangered birds, who have taken up residence in the sky scrapers in Chicago's Loop. My husband has seen them outside the 25th floor window at his office downtown. It was a surprise to see one in the suburbs, and so close to the ground.