Amazing capture of the blink! Way to go, Roger! DaveR/Breaks ----- Original Message ----- From: roger mayhorn To: Buchanan County Bird Club Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 9:43 PM Subject: [bcbirdclub] Red-shouldered Hawk - Compton Mt This immature Red-shouldered Hawk was hanging around our yard today. It perched in a tall locust tree just below the yard pond. It was probably watching for the chipmunks that are regulars under our bird feeders. If you look at the second photo, which was taken a fraction of a second later, it is the same bird, but look at its eye. It looks like the eye is closed, but it isn't. It actually has what is known as a third eyelid or nictitating membrane. The bird blinks horizontally with the membrane to moisten its eye or to remove any dust, etc. from its eye. The membrane is translucent or in some birds or other animals transparent. This allows the hawk to blink while still seeing what is around it. That is especially handy when the hawk is chasing prey or flying through trees. It's amazing to see how each animal has adapted to its particular needs and habitat. Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt