We watched as the northern harrier hawk flew low over a field of grass, back and forth, looking for its next meal. It was a little smaller than a red-tailed hawk, common in these parts, and it had a distinctive white patch on its back just above the tail. When my wife Kathy and I arrived at her parents' home in Des Moines, we asked if they had a field guide so we could look up more information.

What my father-in-law produced was a book called "Iowa Bird life" by naturalist Gladys Black. It wasn't a field guide, but rather a collection of newspaper essays about birds written for Iowa newspapers from 1969-1992. That time span covers a period of increased environmental awareness, including passing of the Endangered and Threatened Species Protection Act, and federal protection for most birds.

It was fascinating to read how far we've come in 30 years, and how federal protection has helped bring many species back from the brink of extinction. Within a few moments, I'd forgotten what I opened the book to find. One story that piqued my interest regarded the Coopers Hawk. Black describes locating a nesting cooper's hawk, the first one sighted in her county in 27 years. She describes her joy when she learned that three surviving chicks left the nest safely. She bluntly points out her concern about the decline of eagles, hawks and owls due to habitat loss, pesticides and illegal shooting.

I was reminded of this article recently, when I heard the crows going crazy outside my house. You see, a Coopers hawk was checking out my neighborhood, and the other birds were not happy. Coopers Hawks are "Accipiters," which means they eat other birds and are often not welcome. (Memo to Cooper's Hawk: The starlings raiding my feeders are all yours.)

Annoyed by the attention, the hawk took off, turned on its side like a Top Gun fighter jet and shot between two houses. It flew through my back yard and between two more houses before coming to rest half a block away.

Just recently, the Coopers hawk was removed from the Illinois Endangered Species list. Due to special protection, increased environmental awareness by people and a willingness to adapt to urban areas, this bird is back.

Other endangered species are making comebacks too. Bald eagles have recovered to the point of being economically important tourist draws. River communities like Alton, Illinois, Clarksville, Mo. and others lucky enough to have a lock and dam, and therefore, open water in winter for fishing, have benefited.

Protections don't need to be rolled back, as some in Congress would love to do. Continued federal protection is needed not only to restore populations, but to protect the gains we've made. It's a shame that animals must often reach the brink of extinction before we are moved to protect them in the first place.

Tonight my dog Emma is outside barking like crazy. I invite her back inside and reassure her that nothing is out there. Just then, a barred owl calls out from a neighbor's tree. The distinctive hoot sounds something like, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?"

I was wrong, Emma. There was something out there, and I'm going to work hard to keep it that way.

Chris Young/IRC Board of Directors