O n the Philippine island of Polillo a warm wind gusts through a rice paddy sending a mass of dragonflies into the air like wisps of blue and silver string High above a Polillo crested goshawk circles taking in every movement below The bird flaps its wings twice and then floats drifting effortlessly like a kite Tilting one wing the goshawk makes a turn in the opposite direction and begins to descend
The dancing dragonflies have drawn the attention of forest frogs which leap out of the rice paddy to capture the bouncing insects But the hunters become the hunted The goshawk tucks its wings and dives toward the earth its eyes trained on a plump frog Before the frog realizes it is in danger the goshawk skims the ground feet-first drives its sharp talons into the frog’s soft flesh and lifts the creature into the air
