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Article in: Birding

Simple Lesson From a Red-tailed Hawk

For most people (birders and non-birders alike) Red-tailed Hawks are a common sighting. Even if they aren’t referred to by name, the presence of a large, often semi-tame raptor is thrilling. And while we are far away from being experts on the behaviors of birds of prey, we learned long ago an important fact.

When approaching a raptor that is uninterested in flying, do not stand directly behind the bird. While this may seem like a sneaky way to get a better look at the bird, this is a dangerous spot to be if the bird ruffles his feathers and fires.

Red-tail projectile fecal matter… onto the patio

This would qualify as a “sheepishly” looking Red-tail

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6 Comments or Trackbacks ↓ Jump to add comment ↓

mon@rch says:

I am always telling people to keep their mouth shut when under a bird like this! LOL

Posted on: February 10, 2009 @ 9:46 pm
Red says:

Looks like a near miss! My problem is with Gulls… I was hit twice in highschool

Posted on: February 10, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
Lana says:

*LOL*

Posted on: February 11, 2009 @ 12:35 am
MaineBirder says:

Close call!

I had a Least Tern dive bomb me on a beach several years ago. It let go with the funk and nailed me right on my face.

Posted on: February 11, 2009 @ 5:35 am
Mary Carlson says:

You would also want to keep your mouth shut while flocks of snow geese and sandhill cranes are flying over. I’m sure that would also apply to most other flocks flying overhead.

Posted on: February 13, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Elizabeth Hunter says:

It does look like it’s thinking, “You didn’t see that, did you?”

My mom once had a gull drop one right in her cocktail when we were having an evening picnic on the beach.

Great post. I love the photos.

Posted on: February 15, 2009 @ 6:23 pm