Sunday Plans vs. Nature’s Plans: Guess Who Won? (Part 2) - April 26, 2026

Sunday morning started with a plan. A simple one. Head out early with Finn and photograph Osprey at the local university. But as I’ve learned over and over again in this journey… nature always has the final say.

On the way to the university, something caught my eye. Red-Tailed Hawks.

The two Red-tailed Hawks I’ve been trying to photograph for weeks were there, perched high on a tall tree near the highway, preening in the early morning sun.

I didn’t hesitate. I pulled over, grabbed my 600mm, and started shooting. And just like that… everything shifted. I was beaming. Electrified. Completely filled with joy. It felt like a sign.

Did You Know? Highway Hawks Are Basically Hunting Geniuses

The Red-tailed Hawk you keep spotting along the highway?

Yeah… they’re not just hanging out. They’re working.

• Highways create wide-open hunting lanes, making it ridiculously easy to spot little critters like mice and voles.

• Those poles, signs, and tall trees? Built-in observation towers. Prime real estate.

• The heat rising off the road creates natural elevators (thermals), letting them soar with barely any effort.

• And yes… sometimes there’s roadside snacks (not glamorous, but efficient).

In other words, while we’re rushing from point A to point B…

They’ve turned the highway into a five-star hunting operation.

Honestly? Kind of brilliant.

If this was how the morning was starting, I knew the rest of the day was going to be something special.

The Osprey Morning I Was Hoping For

My original destination still called me forward.

At the university, a local pair of Osprey have been nesting on top of the stadium lights, returning to this spot year after year. I had seen them briefly the evening before, but I wanted more time. More light. More connection.

Sunday morning gave me exactly that. While my aunt walked Finn nearby, I stood beneath those towering lights, camera ready… and watched something incredible unfold.

They were building. Working together.

One of them flew in carrying the largest branch I’ve ever seen an osprey handle, a full commitment to their home, their future.

I caught it mid-flight, wings wide, branch in tow.

There was a moment where an osprey flew in with a massive branch and I immediately assigned her a personality: independent, slightly dramatic, and absolutely not waiting around for anyone else to get the job done.

Moments like that don’t just happen, you feel them.

I watched as they took turns:

One arriving, the other leaving

One settling into the nest, the other heading out for materials

A perfect rhythm… a partnership

Did You Know? Osprey & Urban Adaptation

Osprey often reuse the same nest year after year, adding new materials each season some nests become massive over time.

They frequently choose human-made structures like light poles, power poles, and platforms because they offer safety from predators and a clear view of nearby water.

Their nests can include not just sticks but sometimes rope, plastic, or other materials they find nearby.

Both male and female participate in building, strengthening their bond through the process.

Tag-teaming life together. It was powerful. And yes… incredible is still the only word that feels even remotely close.

Watching them up there, building a life on stadium lights… adapting, thriving, it felt like a quiet lesson in resilience.

That morning wasn’t just about photos. It was about what these animals reflected back to me.

The Red-tailed Hawks, calm and grounded, taking time to care for themselves in the sunlight… felt like a reminder:

Pause. Breathe. Take care of yourself before taking on the world.

And the Osprey?

They spoke of partnership. Of persistence. Of building something meaningful, even in an imperfect, human-shaped environment. You don’t need perfect conditions to create something strong. You just need commitment.

In a world that feels chaotic, uncertain, and loud…

Watching wildlife adapt, survive, and thrive in our spaces is nothing short of extraordinary.

And in those moments behind the lens, my thoughts quiet, my grief softens, the noise disappears.

I just am.

The Smallest Magic

And just when I thought the morning had already given me everything…

There it was. A flash of movement. A shimmer in the light. A Hummingbird.

Tiny. Fast. Almost unreal.

A completely different kind of energy, but just as powerful. A reminder that not all magic needs to be big to be felt deeply.

Final Reflection

I set out that morning with one goal. Photograph Osprey. But what I received was so much more.

Hawks that reminded me to pause.

Osprey that showed me how to build and adapt.

And a hummingbird that whispered… joy lives in the smallest moments.

This is why I do this.

Not just for the photos.

But for the feeling.