When A Fear Becomes A Reality

And a hello to the Red-Tailed Hawk and here’s my story behind the photo of the week!

“When A Fear Becomes a Reality” I think is an appropriate title for this story!

Friday October 28th 2022. It is 8:10 a.m. and have just entered my car and suddenly remember my camera is still in the house and hooked up to the computer. I’m running late, have an 8:30 a.m. doctor’s appointment in Hackettstown, I opt to go, I’ll get the camera later! Sure hope, I don’t come across any camera moments.

Get to the doctor’s office at 8:28 only to find out doctor is not in, AND, my appointment is not until January! Hope this is not an indicator of how today is going to be!

Get breakfast and then drop off coffee to Anne Marie at Town Hall. She asks if I could go pick up her two cats at Blairstown Animal Hospital and reminds me to go home first and get my camera. I am driving down Kestrel Lane just approaching my house, when I notice a large Red-tailed hawk, on the ground, just off the road – Folks, all conditions were perfect for a photo AND, I don’t have my camera! Driving slowly by the hawk, it gets nervous, lifting a squirrel, about fifteen feet, before setting back down. HOPE HE STAYS THERE!

He did remain there, and our Photo of the Week is one of those photos! NOTE: Not as nice a photo opp as when I first came across him but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Also did not want to scare him off his meal, took some quick shots and departed. Decided this would be my Photo of the Week article, about the impressive Red-tailed hawk.

WHAT TO KNOW

This is the most widespread and familiar large hawk in North America, bulky and broad-winged, designed for effortless soaring. An inhabitant of open country, it is commonly seen perched on roadside poles or sailing over fields and woods. Although adults usually can be recognized by the trademark reddish-brown tail, the rest of their plumage can be quite variable in other parts of the country.

HABITAT: Open country, woodlands, prairie groves, mountains, plains, roadsides. Found in any kind of terrain that provides both some open ground for hunting and some high perches. Habitats may include everything from woodland with scattered clearings to open grassland or desert with a few trees or utility poles.

FEEDING BEHAVIOR: Does most hunting by watching from a high perch, then swooping down to capture prey in its talons. Also hunts by flying over fields, watching for prey below. Small prey carried to perch, large prey often partly eaten on ground.

DIET: Varied, includes small mammals, birds, reptiles. Diet varies with location and season. Mammals such as voles, rats, rabbits, and ground squirrels often major prey; also eats many birds (up to size of pheasant) and reptiles, especially snakes. Sometimes eats bats, frogs, toads, insects, various other creatures; may feed on carrion.

NESTING: In courtship, male and female soar in high circles, with shrill cries. Male may fly high and then dive repeatedly in spectacular maneuvers; may catch prey and pass it to female in flight. Nest site is variable. Usually in tree, up to 120′ above ground; nest tree often taller than surrounding trees. Also nests on cliff ledges, among arms of giant cactus, or on artificial structures such as towers or buildings. Nest (built by both sexes) a bulky bowl of sticks, lined with finer materials, often with leafy green branches added.

EGGS: 2-3, sometimes 4, rarely 1-5. Whitish, blotched with brown. Incubation is by both parents, 28-35 days. Young: Female remains with young most of the time during first few weeks. Male brings most food, and female tears it into small pieces to feed to the young. After about 4-5 weeks, food is dropped in nest, and young feed on it themselves. Young leave the nest about 6-7 weeks after hatching, but not capable of strong flight for another 2 weeks or more. Fledglings may remain with parents for several more weeks.

MIGRATION: Northern Red-tails may migrate far to the south, while many at central or southern latitudes (especially adults) are permanent residents. Most migration is relatively late in fall and early in spring.

SIZE & SHAPE: Red-tailed Hawks are large hawks with typical Buteo proportions: very broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Large females seen from a distance might fool you into thinking you’re seeing an eagle. (Until an actual eagle comes along) The Buteo (Etymology: Buteo is the Latin name of the Common Buzzard) is a genus of medium-sized wide-ranging Birds of Prey with a robust body and broad wings.)

RELATIVE SIZE: The Red-tailed is the second-largest Buteo hawk in North America, after Ferruginous Hawk. They are between a crow and a goose size wise.

SIZE: Male – Length: 17.7 to 22.1 inches; Weight: 24.3 to 45.9 oz.; Wingspan: 44.9 to 52.4 inches

Female – Length: 19.7 to 25.6 inches; Weight: 31.8 to 51.5 oz, Wingspan: 44.9 to 52.4 inches

COLOR PATTERN: Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly and, on the wing underside, a dark bar between shoulder and wrist. The tail is usually pale and cinnamon-red above, though in young birds it’s brown and banded.