The time is coming for a discussion about the merits of protecting birds of prey. Hawks, in particular, do a lot of damage to the game bird population (i.e. my favorite, the pheasants). There isn't much of a pheasant population left in north central Nebraska. Driving down Hwys. 20 and 275 the other day, my wife and I counted 7 hawks sitting atop power poles all within half of a mile to a mile. That's a sign there might be too many around.