Have you ever seen this happen?
I will see this often when I’m driving out in the country: one or more Red-Winged Blackbirds chasing a red-tailed Hawk. In case you aren’t familiar with these birds, the male red-winged blackbird is around 9 ½ inches long. By comparison, a male red-tailed hawk is 18-20 inches long and a female red-tailed hawk can reach 20-26 inches long! This is a really neat scene to witness. The hawk will be flying up and down, back and forth, apparently trying to lose the blackbirds. But the smaller blackbirds stay mere inches away from the hawk. They dart in and out…dive- bombing when they get the chance. They do not give up until the hawk finally leaves the area. (Photo by Chris & Lara Pawluk).
I watched one of these displays yesterday morning. All of my life, when seeing this "battle" I have always thought to myself, "Wow! Those little blackbirds are fearless. Without a thought they just fly in and face the giant." However, yesterday I was struck with a different idea.
When I returned home, I decided to search for information on the "why" and "how" of such an interaction. One website pointed out that hawks and crows are a threat to the Red-Winged Blackbird, and are especially interested in the blackbird’s eggs and babies. It had this to say about the Red-Winged blackbird and crows (stick with me here, I’ll get to the point soon!):
"Red-winged blackbirds nest in big colonies in marshes. Usually there are no trees to block a wide view of the sky. Each male redwing has a small territory in the marsh, like a human backyard, but the neighborhood has a LOT of nests. Many of these are at least a little visible from above. To defend their territory, male redwings spend a lot of time perched at the top of cattails. If one spots a crow in the sky, a male redwing will instantly fly up and dart at the crow rather than risk the crow getting close and noticing nest locations. The crow may still fly directly over the marsh, but the distraction of the redwing flying at him may very well keep the crow from noticing where the nests are. Any redwing that notices the crow will take action, and overall this helps ALL the redwings to protect their eggs and babies from crows."
So…fearless? I’m thinking "no." I think that fear is actually their motivation. They are afraid of the hawk or crow. They are afraid that their nests will be raided. It is the very emotion of fear that sends them on the chase. The Red-Winged Blackbirds are not fearless. To the contrary, they are so full of fear that they don’t take time to think of their own personal danger in confronting a giant bird.
Often times we describe people who have done amazing things as being "fearless." I’m thinking that isn’t true. I can imagine that when people…parachute out of airplanes… or climb a vertical, rocky cliff…or defend themselves in a dangerous situation…or any other things that would set me to trembling with fear…they are actually at least a little afraid. The difference between them and me, however, is that they don’t let the fear stop them. They either work past the fear or use it to their advantage.
Now I think there are many levels of fear. Big fears and small fears. Someone can be afraid of high places or bridges. The same person could be afraid of speaking in public and afraid to walk in his or her neighborhood after dark. At the same time he could be afraid of speaking to a stranger while waiting in a line. Or she may be afraid of trying a new food. Perhaps she is afraid of spiders. Personally, I’m afraid of losing one of my children…I get nervous on long bridges…I don’t think I would ever jump out of an airplane because of fear…I’m afraid of large dogs…the list could go on.
What happens when you are afraid? When I’m afraid my senses are heightened. I seem to be able to see more clearly, hear better, and act quicker. My pulse races and my mind focuses intently on whatever is making me afraid or anxious. I block out anything around me that does not relate to my fear. Here’s an example. Years ago my husband and I put on our heavy backpacks and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. We spent the night at the bottom and then hiked back up the next morning. The Grand Canyon is one mile deep. The trails going up and down are around 7.5 miles long. They twist their way back and forth along the canyon’s walls. In many places, the trail consists of a vertical wall on one side and a sheer drop-off on the other side. In some places the trail itself…the place where your feet are stepping…is fairly wide, but in others it is only 10 to 12 inches wide. Needless to say, there was an element of fear on those hikes. In those narrow spots of the trail, I used my fear to my advantage. I was intensely focused on where I was placing each step. I could see every loose rock and every crack in the trail. I was very aware of the weight on my back and careful to not let it shift so that I’d lose my balance. But did I stop? Give up from fear? No. I kept my eye on the prize. I wanted to see what was at the bottom, and I wanted to make it back to the top. I worked through the fear toward the greater good. And the reward for not giving up was incredible.
So, how can we be more like the Red-Winged Blackbird? How can you face your fears and live to tell about it? I’m going to start facing my fears. I’m going to try to race toward them rather than run from them. What are some of your fears that need to be chased, dive-bombed, and conquered? Are you afraid to try something new? Afraid to fail? Afraid to succeed? Afraid to love? Afraid to try? Afraid to die? Afraid to….live?
Just try. You can do it.
I will see this often when I’m driving out in the country: one or more Red-Winged Blackbirds chasing a red-tailed Hawk. In case you aren’t familiar with these birds, the male red-winged blackbird is around 9 ½ inches long. By comparison, a male red-tailed hawk is 18-20 inches long and a female red-tailed hawk can reach 20-26 inches long! This is a really neat scene to witness. The hawk will be flying up and down, back and forth, apparently trying to lose the blackbirds. But the smaller blackbirds stay mere inches away from the hawk. They dart in and out…dive- bombing when they get the chance. They do not give up until the hawk finally leaves the area. (Photo by Chris & Lara Pawluk).
I watched one of these displays yesterday morning. All of my life, when seeing this "battle" I have always thought to myself, "Wow! Those little blackbirds are fearless. Without a thought they just fly in and face the giant." However, yesterday I was struck with a different idea.
When I returned home, I decided to search for information on the "why" and "how" of such an interaction. One website pointed out that hawks and crows are a threat to the Red-Winged Blackbird, and are especially interested in the blackbird’s eggs and babies. It had this to say about the Red-Winged blackbird and crows (stick with me here, I’ll get to the point soon!):
"Red-winged blackbirds nest in big colonies in marshes. Usually there are no trees to block a wide view of the sky. Each male redwing has a small territory in the marsh, like a human backyard, but the neighborhood has a LOT of nests. Many of these are at least a little visible from above. To defend their territory, male redwings spend a lot of time perched at the top of cattails. If one spots a crow in the sky, a male redwing will instantly fly up and dart at the crow rather than risk the crow getting close and noticing nest locations. The crow may still fly directly over the marsh, but the distraction of the redwing flying at him may very well keep the crow from noticing where the nests are. Any redwing that notices the crow will take action, and overall this helps ALL the redwings to protect their eggs and babies from crows."
So…fearless? I’m thinking "no." I think that fear is actually their motivation. They are afraid of the hawk or crow. They are afraid that their nests will be raided. It is the very emotion of fear that sends them on the chase. The Red-Winged Blackbirds are not fearless. To the contrary, they are so full of fear that they don’t take time to think of their own personal danger in confronting a giant bird.
Often times we describe people who have done amazing things as being "fearless." I’m thinking that isn’t true. I can imagine that when people…parachute out of airplanes… or climb a vertical, rocky cliff…or defend themselves in a dangerous situation…or any other things that would set me to trembling with fear…they are actually at least a little afraid. The difference between them and me, however, is that they don’t let the fear stop them. They either work past the fear or use it to their advantage.
Now I think there are many levels of fear. Big fears and small fears. Someone can be afraid of high places or bridges. The same person could be afraid of speaking in public and afraid to walk in his or her neighborhood after dark. At the same time he could be afraid of speaking to a stranger while waiting in a line. Or she may be afraid of trying a new food. Perhaps she is afraid of spiders. Personally, I’m afraid of losing one of my children…I get nervous on long bridges…I don’t think I would ever jump out of an airplane because of fear…I’m afraid of large dogs…the list could go on.
What happens when you are afraid? When I’m afraid my senses are heightened. I seem to be able to see more clearly, hear better, and act quicker. My pulse races and my mind focuses intently on whatever is making me afraid or anxious. I block out anything around me that does not relate to my fear. Here’s an example. Years ago my husband and I put on our heavy backpacks and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. We spent the night at the bottom and then hiked back up the next morning. The Grand Canyon is one mile deep. The trails going up and down are around 7.5 miles long. They twist their way back and forth along the canyon’s walls. In many places, the trail consists of a vertical wall on one side and a sheer drop-off on the other side. In some places the trail itself…the place where your feet are stepping…is fairly wide, but in others it is only 10 to 12 inches wide. Needless to say, there was an element of fear on those hikes. In those narrow spots of the trail, I used my fear to my advantage. I was intensely focused on where I was placing each step. I could see every loose rock and every crack in the trail. I was very aware of the weight on my back and careful to not let it shift so that I’d lose my balance. But did I stop? Give up from fear? No. I kept my eye on the prize. I wanted to see what was at the bottom, and I wanted to make it back to the top. I worked through the fear toward the greater good. And the reward for not giving up was incredible.
So, how can we be more like the Red-Winged Blackbird? How can you face your fears and live to tell about it? I’m going to start facing my fears. I’m going to try to race toward them rather than run from them. What are some of your fears that need to be chased, dive-bombed, and conquered? Are you afraid to try something new? Afraid to fail? Afraid to succeed? Afraid to love? Afraid to try? Afraid to die? Afraid to….live?
Just try. You can do it.
