This week, Ben Huberman asks us to share something that exists harmoniously with its surroundings. He writes, “Gracefulness is a tricky quality – it manifests itself as an effortless, subtle harmony between a subject and its environment.” You can read the entire challenge post here.

In the image above, two Harris Hawks float effortlessly on the air currents as they hunt for prey. Birds on the ground can be pretty ungainly, especially some species that jut their head to and fro with every step they take. But give them some space and a little bit of sky and they can soar for hours in the sky. The gallery below features a few images captured at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum where during the cooler seasons they feature a raptor flight demonstration. Harris Hawks fly in “wolf packs”, always looking for a meal. Each bird in the family takes turns feasting on the catch. They only stop hunting when the last bird and last chick have been feed. Click on an image to enlarge it and to scroll through the gallery.

John Steiner