Here's what's in a name

I often get asked what my inspiration was for the name of this blog.  Er, well, at least one person has asked.  Coming up with a good farm name is actually what kept me from creating this blog for, oh I don't know...a couple of years.  Then, as often happens, nature provided that inspiration for me.

The following are a series of shots taken from my backyard...a scene that plays out nearly every day.

Ok, the last one has Mr./Mrs. Hawk perching atop a Cottonwood, but you get the idea.

We seem to have a synchronized dinner time because each evening that I'm in the kitchen cooking, there are one or more hawks perched in those big Cottonwoods overlooking the fields, just waiting to spy their meal.  And that's obviously what draws them in - but having my yard encircled with Pine, it is often the Pine and the Hawk that command my field of view.  As well, Cottonwood Hawk Farm just doesn't have as nice of a ring to it. 

On at least a few occasions now, another interesting sight I've had the pleasure of witnessing is an adult hawk seemingly being chased by a handful of smaller birds.  They are often low overhead and creating quite the ruckus.  I haven't been able to tell yet if they are just babies playing tag with Mama, or some other species who are retaliating after the hawk got all up in their business.  Either way, it's one of my favorite shows on backyard TV these days.  What have you been watching?