21
Mother could leave him to hunt wherever she
could find large prey, as a three-quarters
grown Marsh Harrier is a formidable bird and
not readily tackled.
He tested his wings: at first only from one
tree stump to another, then over the reed
beds and by early August he was flying
strongly over the entire marsh, and one day
they both left together.
He had not learned to hunt for himself and
probably they would break their journey South
at favourable locations, where she would
continue to feed him, maybe until they
reached their Winter quarters.
A little licence has been used in the telling
of this tale, but the main facts are accurate.
The Watchers felt pride in the efforts of
this female Harrier who had chosen their
marsh to rear one addition to the sadly small
population of these magnificent birds who
breed in our country during the summer months
NANCY BATH
WHERE HARRIERS ROOST
Through the chill December weather
hurrying as dusk fell,
along a pathway edged with heather
to a hollow, sheltered dell.