Adversity is said to bring us closer together. This adage, though, isn’t usually meant in a literal sense!

Last month, we lamented the loss of the cupola and attached structure that served as a strategic perch for most of the neighborhood’s raptors, corvids, and songbirds. I was certain that the demolition of that building would severely curtail views of our favorite Bronx backyard bird, the American Kestrel. But the dark cloud sent up by all the construction being done two blocks away has a silver lining: the kestrel now perches much closer to our window. He doesn’t come around every day, but twice in the last week, I’ve spotted him on the satellite dish of the school right across the street from my apartment, hungrily eying the house sparrows. The shot above was actually taken from my bedroom. If he gets any closer, our cats might have a fight on their fuzzy hands.