Red-tailed hawk hunting in oak savanna

[Margaret Weiss]

Hello.

I don't know how many of you have a chance to go by the oak savanna
behind Thurston Elementary. It would appear a red-tailed hawk has made
that area its new hunting grounds. Most days I've seen it I've been
there between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The bird has a most nonchalant
attitude toward human observers and can be seen either on one of the
bathouses, in the large tree near the start of the path or in the
grasses hopping about.

I took some photos the first day I saw it if anyone is interested.

Margaret Weiss

[Neal Foster]

Thanks for this observation, Margie. I'll bet the oak savanna, with all
the long uncut grass, provides higher quality habitat for mice, voles,
and shrews than the mowed areas of the playground. Have you any offhand
observations of potential hawk prey there?

--Neal