Thoughts on red-tailed hawks

Red-tailed hawk

Let’s talk about red-tailed hawks. Beautiful, aren’t they? Magnificent?

What about American crows? We’re beautiful and magnificent too! Have you seen the way our feathers look violet and even green in the right light? Sometimes you can’t even see the red on the hawk’s tail and it just looks a brown and white bird. Yet crows have legal hunting seasons while red-tailed hawks are fully protected by the law.

It’s not like red tails are uncommon. You can see them almost anywhere in the U.S. hunting along roadsides. They mostly sit and wait for something to pounce on. We crows are curious and actively investigate new food sources, like garbage bags or outdoor pet bowls. Not to mention we interact socially with lots of other crows, like humans do with humans. You’d think people would recognize a kindred spirit! Instead people are always trying to get rid of us.

So I want you to do me a favor. The next time you see a hawk on a power line or road-side tree, pull over (or have your parents pull over). Get out. Raise your arms like wings. Run toward the hawk yelling, “Caw!”

With any luck, other people will see you and join in. This is called mobbing behavior.

Thank you.

[Note from the admin: Please don’t do this. It’s cruel to harass hawks and possibly illegal if there is a nest nearby or if the hawk could be hit by a car.]