Red Tails

Red-tail Earl Plato

Drove the Q.E.W. (Queen Elizabeth Way) from Ft. Erie to Niagara
Falls today, March 11, 2008. Saw two large Red-tailed hawks on the way. E have seen as many as six perched in trees on the north side of the Q.E.W. The photo below shows a rabbit in the clutches of the raptor. This is the largest and most common of our local hawks. However, I thought meadow mice and voles were its main prey. I have seen this raptor as it gave its shrill “Krrrr-rr” as it plummeted down to grasp a fat vole. Some readers have called me to say that they attack poultry. Not that I know. Rabbits and hares the photo seems to prove so. Make a comment on the blog and share your view. Today we saw two large stocky hawks with whitish breasts with rust-coloured tails. We will see more as spring approaches.