I have watched for them for a couple of years now--a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that soar the thermals that rise from the freeway that roars it way along like some powerful petroleum river outside my office window. Every once in a while I will be taking in the solace of the small gardens outside when their wild and exciting "screeeeeee" will pull my eyes to dancing the sky looking for them.

When I was young my motivation to become a biologist (later diverted by the turbidity of the desire to make money and realization of the actualities of real careers in science) was the unique blend of comfort and awe I found in nature.