h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is a very good entry. It reminded me of the first time I saw a golden eagle here in Southern Ontario.

One small detail --riding thermals created by the cliffs they frequent,-- from the entry. Thermals are a flatland phenomenon being gobs of rising air heated by the sun. They happen on windless days.
In the mountains where the wind is deflected upwards, birds can learn to be carried too. This is called slope soaring.

Yesterday was a windy day here. While driving, I stopped to watch a small hawk, wings outstretched, absolutely fixed in one spot in the air. This was at a highway overpass where the artificial hill produced enough updraft to support the hawk about twenty feet up and watching intently for whatever might move in the grass below. I watched for about five minutes then had to go but I could still see him in the rear view mirror.