Make way for hawks

Some birds fly into windows because they can't tell that they are solid. Hawks fly into things when they are in the way of their prey. I once talked to a wildlife rehabilitator about how they typically had several hawks in their facility at any given time that had flown into things while locked on to their targets and accelerating to speeds in excess of 40 mph - stuff like railings they hadn't planned for, trucks on a road they were crossing, etc. Once they dial in, they can't really divert.

I experienced this up close and personal one morning on the muddy river path. I was on the dirt side, opposite the green line side, and I noticed a squirrel was crossing the path about 20 yards ahead of me. Next thing I know, I hear this incredible wooshing noise, feathers were flying, and I am fighting for control of my bike on the dirt path. Even though I had been going 13-15 mph, a hawk had overtaken me, barely missing what would have been a nasty impact with my helmet, and had grabbed the squirrel. Hawk was now high in a tree and starting a meal, while I was pulling feathers out of my helmet.

I wonder if the hawk realized how damn lucky we both were. It would have been one of the strangest bike accidents ever: clocked by a hawk from behind.