I suspect that the best compliment for a soaring pilot is a hawk or eagle joining YOUR thermal.
Happens once in a while for us over the Davis Mountains near Marfa in southwest Texas.
Swallow-Tail Kites are always amazing to watch maneuver in thermals.

Finally, watch this wonderful short video of hawks and paragliders called "Parahawks":
http://www.youtube.com/v/pd5BMP_41bI...%26version%3d3

Burt
Marfa, Texas, USA