Close-up look at how a Blue Jay intimidates and then gives chase to a very large Red Shouldered Hawk - the top of the Backyard food chain. The Blue Jays are "Backyard Superheroes" flaring every feather on their body to look big and with their beak held wide open to appear more dangerous they are a sight to behold in slow motion as they attack the hawk - and then give chase! Blue Jays are nesting now and particularly vigilant - they also perform a valuable warning service for all the other Backyard critters - especially the squirrels!
An Osprey hovers high above the marsh in very strong winds looking for a fish to dive on and catch. The first effort comes up empty, but Ospreys don't miss often and a meal is caught next. Also called Fish Eagles, Fish Hawks or Sea Eagles the Osprey lives entirely on fish. The "bent wing" profile is a sure sign you are looking at an Osprey at a distance!
Red Tailed Hawk perched over the Backyard - the first time presence of this big hawk may explain the recent loss of Mother Squirrel as these hawks primarily eat rodents. The hunting Cooper's Hawks seem to prefer Doves and other birds and the Red Shouldered Hawks seems to prefer birds, snakes and lizards. Interesting that a Red Tailed Hawk would suddenly appear in an area historically frequented by Cooper's and Red Shouldered Hawks. There must be an abundance of food this winter or these raptors are increasing in numbers and spreading out into new territory. These hawks are usually not migratory in this area although their numbers may temporarily increase from the north during winter. Magnificent birds that they are - it is not clear how three species of hawks are going to coexist in such close quarters.
The red-tailed hawk is one of the most widely scattered hawks in the Americas. It breeds from central Alaska, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories east to southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and south to Florida, the West Indies, and Central America. The winter range stretches from southern Canada south throughout the remainder of the breeding range.
Its preferred habitat is mixed forest and field, with high bluffs or trees that may be used as perch sites. It occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coastal regions, mountains, foothills, coniferous and deciduous woodlands, tropical rainforests, agricultural fields and urban areas.
The red-tailed hawk is widespread in North America, partially due to historic settlement patterns, which have benefited it. The clearing of forests in the Northeast created hunting areas, while the preservation of woodlots left the species with viable nest sites. The increase in trees throughout the Great Plains during the past century due to fire suppression and tree planting facilitated the western range expansion of the red-tailed hawk as well as range expansions of many other species of birds. The construction of highways with utility poles alongside treeless medians provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting. Unlike some other raptors, the red-tailed hawk are seemingly unfazed by considerable human activity and can nest and live in close proximity to large numbers of humans. Thus, the species can also be found in cities, where common prey such as rock pigeons and brown rats may support their populations. One famous urban red-tailed hawk, known as "Pale Male", became the subject of a non-fiction book, Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park, and is the first known red-tail in decades to successfully nest and raise young in the crowded New York City borough of Manhattan.
The red-tailed hawk is carnivorous, and an opportunistic feeder. Its diet is mainly small mammals, but it also includes birds and reptiles. Prey varies with regional and seasonal availability, but usually centers on rodents, comprising up to 85% of a hawk's diet. Most commonly reported prey types include mice, including both native Peromyscus species and house mice; gophers, voles, chipmunks, ground squirrels and tree squirrels. Additional prey (listed by descending likelihood of predation) include lagomorphs, shrews, bats, pigeons, quail, corvids, waterfowl, other raptors, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insects and earthworms. Where found in Caribbean islands, red-tailed hawks prey mostly on reptiles such as snakes and lizards, since these are perhaps the most predominant native land animals of that region. Prey specimens can range to as small a size as beetles and worms. However, they can also prey on marmots, white-tailed jackrabbits, or female wild turkey, all of which are at least easily double the weight of most red-tails. Although they prefer to feed on fresh prey they've killed themselves, these hawks are not above occasionally consuming carrion. During winter in captivity, an average red-tail will eat about 135 g (4.8 oz) daily.
The red-tailed hawk commonly employs one of two hunting techniques. Often, they scan for prey activity from an elevated perch site, swooping down from the perch to seize the prey. They also watch for prey while flying, either capturing a bird in flight or pursuing prey on the ground until they can pin them down in their talons. Red-tailed hawks, like some other raptors, have been observed to hunt in pairs. This may consist of stalking opposites sides of a tree, in order to surround a tree squirrel and almost inevitably drive the rodent to be captured by one after being flushed by the other hawk.They are opportunistically attracted to conspicuous meals, such as displaying male red-winged blackbirds.
Crows calling at Bald Eagle to force it off its high perch and out of its territory in Florida. The crows bet that annoying calls and courage will trump size and power. Who will win this battle of nerves?
A beautiful Red Shouldered Hawk has caught a Black Racer Snake and proceeds to eat it on a dead pine branch in the Backyard. Hawks sit on fences and watch for young snakes active in the daytime - not only are they easy to catch, but they are like tender gourmet food for the hawks.
The Red-shouldered Hawk is one of the most beautiful and distinctively marked hawks in North America. Adults are barred with rusty-red on the underparts and have bright rufous shoulders. Their underparts are dark brown, and the tail is black with 4 or 5 narrow white bands. When in flight, pale crescents in the wings are visible from below. They breed from northern California south to Baja, in the Midwestern United States east to New Brunswick; and south to the Florida Keys and Texas. Habitat. In Florida, Red-Shouldered Hawks nest in a wide variety of woodland habitats, but they are particularly identified with cypress swamps and river bottomlands. It most frequently still-hunts from a relatively low, inconspicuous perch but may also forage from a low, coursing flight (Palmer 1988; Johnsgard 1990). Its diet is characterized by sluggish, easily captured animals, such as toads, frogs, snakes, rodents, and small birds and their nestlings (Kimmel and Frederickson 1981, Palmer 1988, Kale and Maehr 1990). Typical nest sites are located in large mature trees with good canopy cover. A bulky well-built nest is usually placed a little more than halfway up the tree in a major fork (Kimmel and Frederickson 1981, Bednarz and Dinsmore 1982, Palmer 1988). Usually two whitish eggs marked with brown are laid and incubated for approximately 33 days. The young birds fledge at 40 to 45 days of age (Palmer 1988; Johnsgard 1990). Seasonal Occurrence. In Florida, Red-shouldered Hawks breed from January through May (Kale and Maehr 1990), or through June (B. Millsap, pers. commun.). Most birds reside in Florida, but the states' population is augmented in September and October by fall migrants from northern states.
Red Shouldered Hawk calls at sunrise from atop the security light. It's mating season in Florida and if you listen closely you will hear another Hawk responding to the calls. You'll hear a number of other interesting birds calling at sunrise as well. It is rare that they sit still long while I'm filming them. A full time resident of the woods behind the backyard they are frequent backyard visitors and while they often catch snakes they also snatch the occasional squirrel and Mourning Dove from the feeders. The sound of the Red Shouldered Hawk will send the squirrels running for cover. Occasionally Blue Jays perform a pretty good imitation of the Hawk and seem to enjoy scaring the squirrels. The balance of Nature!
Turkey Vulture at Cape Canaveral National Seashore, Florida seeing to personal hygiene, contrary to common belief they are very fastidious about their appearance. Exposing the vast expanse of their 5-6 foot wingspan to the strong afternoon sun helps to reduce bacteria and small pests and keeps them looking good!
Amazing Male Osprey Sky Dance and courtship calls right over the backyard while the female calls very loudly on a nearby tree.The male is performing the classic "Sky Dance" and courtship calls while the female is making very loud but different sounds - perhaps giving him encouragement from the grandstand. These are actually very loud birds and have been carrying on for several weeks - one certainly knows when its time to grab the camera. This event went on for at least 10 minutes - this video is the best parts of when I had the bird in focus - some of the audio not included was even louder! I am hoping this is to be a new nesting pair and that they will build a nest in one of the living or dead long-leaf pine trees behind the backyard - perhaps in the one the female was calling from.
This was actually a very difficult video to shoot as the Osprey was nearly directly overhead -until I figured out to lay on the ground looking straight up and not zoom in too much. However, the stereo audio came out superb - crank up the volume and enjoy!
It was exciting to have an Osprey (also called Fish Hawk or Fish Eagle) bring a fish to a tree behind the Backyard and proceeds to eat it and make some great calls over the next 30 minutes. This video shows the beginning and end and I do mean the business end - with the best calls! This was mid afternoon and the light and angle wasn't perfect, but the big raptor was close and enjoying the fish so much that it paid me no mind. It was a treat to be able to watch this magnificent bird for over 30 minutes. Near the end it lets fly some serious poop so be prepared. The third biggest raptor to visit the backyard after the eagles and turkey vultures. I have never been able to film an Eagle's visit however. The Osprey is one of my favorites as it eats only fish from the drainage canals and lake in the conservation area behind the Backyard and I like to fish as well!
A preening Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture in the backyard are taking their appearance, hygiene, and feather maintenance very seriously. It is also unusual for two individual vultures of different species to spend the night roosting so closely together. I am always impressed with the quiet dignity of large vultures at roost. You might change your mind about vultures after watching these two attractive neat freaks. One has to look their best before heading out for a day of eating roadkill - which is a valuable service.
Male and female Red Shouldered Hawks have just completed a "sky dance" over the backyard (which I missed filming) and are resting high in a long-leaf pine tree. This would be a great place for a nest, but as you can hear the Blue Jays and squirrels are constantly sounding alarm trying their best to make them feel unwelcome in the neighborhood. Mating seems to be ahead of schedule this winter as a pair of Ospreys have also been "sky dancing" recently.
