I may have given the impression (silly creature that I am) that Red-tail hawks are a migratory clan, but that generally isn't so. In abnormally cold winters, these beautiful birds do migrate short distances, but they usually remain here over the winter, and it is always a treat to see them perched on fences, barn roofs and trees in the depths of January. They are a wonderful reminder of something which is almost impossible to express (although I keep trying to do that here) - the perfection of the natural order, its grandeur, its mystery and its vastness.Most other birds of prey forsake us in the long northern winters, and the migration is in full swing now. Camera, lenses, binoculars, sketchbooks and a large flask of tea are already tucked into the old Volkswagen - we are off to roam the back roads of the highlands today, to say farewell to the goshawks, the ospreys, the kestrels, the peregrines and the merlins and wish them a safe journey. The local geese (thank the Old Wild Mother) are still here and will be for a few weeks longer.
5 comments:
i love the redtails, they're my favorite bird of prey. where i grew up in southeast MN they're very abundant. we also get to keep to the bald eagles in the winter. you can always see them if you take a drive along the upper mississippi river valley. ah i miss home! id trade this city life anyday!
I once 'knew' a redtail. He used to wait so patiently on the chainlink fence beside my koi pond. I think he got one as one year I found an 8 inch koi dead in the lawn outside the fence.
We just finished watching a delightful and inspiring video "Pale Male" about a family of Red-tailed Hawks nesting on 5th Avenue in New York City
Wonderful Photo
We keep bald eagles all year here, and I remember the redtails from living in California where they stayed all year as well. I loved driving down the back country roads through farm land and seeing the hawks sitting on the fences watching carefully for the careless mouse.
My son recently moved to a new neighborhood. He told me he had noticed red-tailed hawks flying overhead. there is also an elementary school down the street and one day he was talking to a neighbor about the hawks and the school's mascot. He said it ought to be the red hawks, and the neighbor said "It is".....
Just thought of that when I saw the photo...
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