A bird – voting with its feet – has won an election by acclamation in central Maine, effectively closing down two walking trails. Through threats, intimidation and violence, this bird has employed tactics of which land trusts can only dream.
Chalk one up for the Democrat goshawk, which allegedly clawed a jogger’s head so badly that Bond Brook Recreation Area officials deemed the area a threat to humanity.
The same goshawk is believed to have previously nested and acted aggressively toward people in years past in the same area of the Augusta-owned recreation area with a network of recreation trails.
Though a goshawk claims no known political affiliation, if it can shut down hiking trails at the mere “drop of a hat” you can guess which way its feathers blow.
Not even a primary. Trails shut down. Boom. Winner take all.
No wonder the American goshawk is also known as the Kamala Bird.
“The goshawk appears in stories from many cultures,” according to SpiritualityAnimals.com “In some Native American tales, the goshawk helps heroes by giving them better vision or carrying messages. Japanese stories include tales of goshawks turning into human form to teach lessons about respecting nature.
“Old European legends sometimes showed goshawks as friends to forest spirits or guards of hidden treasures. Welsh stories tell of a goshawk that could lead worthy people to magic springs with healing powers. These tales often use words like change, guidance, wisdom, and natural magic when talking about goshawks.”
But for walkers in Kennebec County, it has a different reputation entirely. To them, it is an angry bird, and a bird of shame.
