I love all of you. When I send out a challenge, you try your best. I wish I could give away a Crossley Guide: Raptors to everyone, but alas, like the immortal Highlander, there can be only one. So, I present my favorite and the overall winner of the Crossley Contest (see the original plates here) and have posted a few honorable mentions afterwards:

It was tough because everybody got creative. But I think this is my favorite. Congratulations to Walter Kitundu for combining gore and total domination as you ride a northern goshawk that is killing one of your friends. I also like the addition of the bloody arm perch. You had all of your bases covered on this one. Walter, send me your mailing address so I can get you a copy of the book (sharon at birdchick dot com).

Here are other entries that I wish I could give books to for creativity and well, just making me giggle when I go through my inbox:

Love the addition of Atreyu and Falcore with my favorite bird. Way to appeal to my geek side Nathaniel Gonzales!

Andrew Wallis, I love your idea of being able to control a goshawk...I know some falconers who would like that invented as well.

Oh Drew Weber, I do so love your commentary on baiting birds with this one. Excellent and well played.

Caitlin Bailey, this was cute. Though, I worry that if you actually did this with goshawks, they'd fly in all different directions and strangle the man playing the crossword.

Heather Labore, I like your style...

And finally, I present the many faces of goshawk by Susan Ellis...very good.

Thank you to everyone who participated. You are all creative freaks and I love you!