We love our woods and wildlife in the Granite State. Each year, we empty penny jars on gas, food, and hiking equipment and trek on timbered trails from Franconia to Pawtuckaway to get closer to nature.

Then there are times when nature comes a little closer to us. Living in a state as blessedly undeveloped as New Hampshire can make for some close encounters in our backyards. Or, as was recently the case, our living room.

Kestrels are small falcons known for their beautiful brown plumage… and talons capable of turning phone books into instant confetti. So when I recently passed our living room and glimpsed one such clawed creature standing in our fireplace, my pulse quickened. My inner park ranger also emerged.

The bird had likely followed a meal – a chipmunk or raccoon – down our chimney and was now in a very strange place, himself. He was scared. Before I could steal another glance, he’d disappeared into the flue, where a fluttering of wings signaled he was stuck. Playing the role of ornithologist, I rushed to grab a flashlight (a crummy bicycle strobe was the best I could do), a gardening glove, and our kids, so they could witness something special. They stood silently, slack-jawed, as dad pointed the flashlight up the flue – and quickly realized he was staring up at four eyes, not two!  Understanding how easily I could draw back fewer digits than I had going in (not exactly a Kodak moment), I slowly, gently reached in, and one-by-one, retrieved the two frightened birds.

As a family, we’d once nursed a sick hummingbird back to health. There are few things as awesome or beautiful in nature as seeing a bird regain its strength and fly off after being in trouble. As we stepped outside and set the kestrels free, I was reminded of this. And of how fortunate we are to live in a state which made it possible.