Wed. afternoon I was setting on the front deck, soaking up some sunshine when this giant Redtail Hawk flew over. He was skimming the tops of the trees, trolling for squirrels. His wing span must have been close to 6 ft. He didn't get any squirrels but did land in a tree and sat there for about 10 minutes or so. I have seen them grab squirrels out of trees here before though. The last one I saw was about 3 years ago. The squirrel was so big the hawk could barely fly with him. It's funny how most of the birds and animals know when there is a preditor in the area. It gets really quiet and all small animal movement ceases. He was just too far away to get pics of him though.
What a great sight for you! I have a soft spot for hawks--they are so good at what they do. We have a redtail that sits at the top of our ashe juniper and surveys the field. There isn't a mouse or vole safe from him! (But his wingspan isn't nearly as big as your hawk's).
I love to hear their call when they are hunting. We have several pair here in the area where I live. For some reason I always "hear" their call in the background noise when I'm watching movies and TV. Don
We have several red tail hawks but they are usually too far away. They are more often heard not seen. A neighbor had just watched a chipmunk finish an acorn when a hawk swooped down and made off with the now fattened chipmunk. More often the cats are the demise of the local chipmunks. Jerry
My dad always called these "chicken hawks". When we drive the 5 miles into town, there is usually 1 or 2 setting on the electric lines watching for mice and rabbits in the ditches.
They're very handsome birds. We haven't got them here, but we have other hawks. We rarely see them but are glad when we do.
We don't have these hawks either but the local sparrowhawks come into the garden on a regular basis trying to grab one of 'my' small birds. Yesterday one took a long tailed tit and the day before it was a siskin that was on the menu. I don't mind the hawk taking the birds as much as I do the neighbor's cat. They are at least killing to live.
Red-tails are my favorite hawk, I believe theyre the second bird-of-prey I was ever introduced to (after the Bald Eagle!) Weve got a pair living at a small airfield just up the road and Ive seen another up the way a bit on my route to work.
