Disappointment tempered by acceptance

"magnificent animals continue to thrive...and thrill"
Lesser Scaup on Reservoir - 4/26/06
Photo by Bruce Yolton


Many readers have written in to thank John Blakeman for his latest posting [Tuesday, April 25]. Here are two:


Hi! I am crushed........but John Blakeman is absolutely right; these magnificent animals continue to thrive....and continue to thrill....in NYC...and Central Park.

Penelope Bianchi of California


Dear Marie,

. . .[John Blakeman] puts the crushing disappointment into perspective. Our marvel should be of the fact that these "regal" red-tailed hawks can successfully occupy this territory; four adults can live, hunt, and sometimes even reproduce in CP. He reminds us of that there is so much we don't know and that beauty and wonder are there, as well as our heartache. If Pale Male and Lola, and now Junior and Charlotte, can bear this, then I will bear it also, and I will look to next year for babies. In the meantime, there is a lot of daily living that these birds will enjoy and we should watch and savor it.

There is a Jackie Kennedy quality to John Blakeman's words. I think of those gathered at the boatpond, waiting, (I would be there were I not here), with that dreadful hopeless feeling creeping into our minds, in the midst of our gaping silence, he gives us the courage we need.

Regards,
Nan Holmes