When Sam lived at home and was still in school he would, of course, get a spring break. Every year from the time he was nine until after he graduated we would take a trip together during his week off.
I took him camping in the Everglades one of those early years and while in the area we went to the local alligator farm where we rode one of the commercial airboats. The airboat was a large platform, with seating for 10 or so folks, not very fast, and barely exciting. They took us out into the glades, squired us around a bit, showed us a big fat alligator they’d been feeding whole chickens to, and then brought us back.
The next year I wanted to do something a little better. I took one of the operators aside and told him I wanted him to take Sam and myself out on his personal airboat. He balked, citing insurance regulations etc., but I persisted, asking him what it would take money-wise. He finally relented and named a price, I forked over the dough, and we boarded. Two benches on a flatboat, a 350 c.i.d. Chevy engine, huge fan, and a rudder made for a terrific ride. The driver really gave us our money’s worth. We zoomed around, slid sideways, raced back and forth, and really had to hold onto our hats.
The following spring came and found us once again planning a camping trip to Long Pine Key in the Everglades. I decided there was only one way to top the previous joy ride, I called ahead and booked a crop duster. Now that was fun as well!! Sam sat in the co-pilot seat and I squished myself into a small bench area behind the pilot. We flew out over the glades to Taylor Slough, then back over Homestead to Miami. I’ll never forget looking down at the beach goers and seeing the sharks and huge rays swimming nearby. I really don’t see how there aren’t more attacks every year.
We also flew over the Miami Landfill, it reminded me of a giant goofy looking loaf of bread. The pilot even let Sam fly the plane for a few minutes.
After we landed Sam and I went into town and stocked the cooler for the camp, getting sodas, lunchmeat, bread, cheese, and so on. We also picked up a couple big Porterhouse Steaks to grill.
That night while we had the steaks on the fire a Red-shouldered Hawk flew into the tree right above the campsite. The hawk never moved while we cooked and ate, staring at us the whole time. I figured that it was waiting for an opportunity to dive bomb us to get the meat so I kept a close watch on it. I was finishing my steak when I got an idea, I left a little bit of meat on the bone, and held it up toward the nosy neighbor. The hawk bobbed its head around and leaned forward ready to pounce. I waited a second and flipped the bone up into the air. The bird dropped out of the tree, grabbed the morsel with his talons in mid air, swooped right back to his perch, and tore into its dinner. Sam then had the pleasure of flipping his steak bone up and seeing the hawk repeat the aerial maneuver. We enjoyed sharing with him almost as much as he seemed to be relishing his steak bones.
The picture I’ve posted here is of a Red-shouldered Hawk eating something a bit more normal for the species and was taken outside my home. I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk catch this leaf hopper in my yard. I went and grabbed the camera and was able to get a few images of it devouring the insect. You can see that it finally noticed me, at which point I backed away and let it finish its meal.
