A couple of days ago L. happened to be looking up from the window at some pigeons on the edge of our roof when they all of a sudden exploded into the air and L. picked out a hawk sitting on top of a building up the street. I'm pretty sure there are a lot more birds of prey of several kinds around the city, and southern Ontario generally, than there were when I was a kid (though paying attention has something to do with it), and it seems like more every year. I guess we're still emerging from the age of DDT. So, some hopeful signs, at least.