Red Tailed-hawks

Saturday, 11-19-11, I went to the original site of the Pennsylvania Ross Leffler School of Conservation, A.K.A. "The Game School" for some small game hunting. I saw 2 ruffed grouse, one from my truck which I couldn't get any photos of before he flushed, and one flushed low denying any shooting oppourtunity. I also observed many blue jays, american crows, american robins, and black-capped chickadees while at the Game School. I walked and worked the brush and hedge rows for about an hour before I left to meet my cousin on James Bond Road to see if we couldn't get into any ring-necked pheasants. On the way out, a small white-tailed buck was pushed by bear hunters and ran infront of my truck, and into the brush. Behind him was a confused doe, who just kinda stood around for a bit before running off in the opposite direction, allowing for a few photos.

White-tailed deer, doe

My cousin and I didn't have any luck, but we did see some songbird species, cedar waxwings, american robins, black-capped chickadees, and blue jays were a few. We only spent about an hour hunting because I had to get to work, but on my way home I pulled over, several times, to watch the red-tailed hawk migration. The peak of the migration is the first half of November, and they migrate the months of October and November, though can be found in Pennsylvania year round. This is the most common large hawk in most of North America, and is an adaptable feeder. Eating anything from reptiles, to mammals, amphibians, fish, and can be a scavenger when the going gets rough. Red-tailed hawks that occupy a dessert landscape can have a diet that is up to 50% snakes. In open country, this species tends to hunt from perches, but when in a forest setting will ambush prey from the air. The red-tailed hawk has well-protected feet and legs, allowing stalking of prey on the ground. The heavy scales on its legs help protect it from snake bites and other prey. They are also adaptive nesters, from rocky ledges, to cacti, building ledges, and transmission towers, this raptor will make itself at home. This information was found in "Bird: The Definitive Visual Guide" by The Audubon Society.

red-tailed hawk perched in a tree line on Game School Road

red-tailed hawk soaring in a thermal

(note the wrist patches that look like croissants or "commas", overall white underside, and the redish orange tail)

red-tailed hawk gliding

red-tailed hawk soaring in thermal

this photo shows the "headlights" on the foredge of the wings

red-tailed hawk gliding

this photo also shows the "headlights"

Red-tailed hawks can be fun to watch. I have seen them being mobbed by crows, fight an osprey for a fish, and fight each other over a deer carcass in the winter months when food isn't always easy to find. For more info on Red-tailed hawks and similar species, I found a few good websites.

http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/red-tailed_hawk

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-tailed_hawk/lifehistory