[SWHouston]

HAWK UPDATE !

Usually once or twice a day, I'll call the whole Pack out to the back yard, and we'll all sit around and just be together. I can tell, they really like things like that, "together" being the most important feature.

Anyway, as I was sitting there, and my guys were just laying out on the grass sunning themselves, I saw a (small) Hawk at a distance, and as it flew around in nice large circles, it eventually was overhead, at about 100 ft or so.

I was sitting in/under the Breezeway, leaning forward and watching it (full time) from that "hidden" position, just waiting to see if it would swoop. Ichabod was the most available target, as he lay out in the middle of the yard. I glanced quickly, seeing both Sneakers and Becca looking up, apparently at the Hawk, but, they didn't react any. Ichabod (a puppy) just lay there, and didn't notice anything.

Though I trust my guys to have defended themselves, I admit my apprehension increased, as I saw the Hawk turn and fly down closer. I was ready to jump up, and interfere with what I thought was going to be an attack on the Puppy. That didn't happen.

The Hawk flew/glided through the canopy slowly, apparently checking out the animals laying there, continued and flew away. I don't think it saw me, but made an evaluation of the risk of an attack, and decided against it. We stayed outside for another half hour, and it didn't return.

That was a very astute decision on the Hawk's part, since the last one that tried to attack my Pack, got thoroughly distributed around the yard in pieces.

I know that many here, would have quickly gathered their little ones up, and rushed them into the house. However, in my case, I don't have "little" ones, save for Ichabod (over 5 lbs now) and who is growing like a weed.

Given the flexibility I permit with them, in accessing the outside whenever they want, it's important to me, that I know they can defend themselves when I'm not around for that. This incident supported that confidence.