>Bob Mauritsen asked if it is common for raptors to eat large insects.

>Chris Maack
>Bird Treatment & Learning Center
>Anchorage, AK
>CMaack at compuserve.com
>

We have an old Oregon State Publication that lists the food and percentages
in various hawk's diets. They say that kestrals eat 63+% insects. However,
we see them eating 90% rodents. Of course, there is an epidemic number of
mice at this time. One year we threw some tomato horn worms out on the
drive. The young flew right in snatched them up, once, but never again.

Red-tails 55% rodents, 10% insects.
Ferruginous 54% rodents, 29% rabbits/squirrels, 9% insects
Swainson's 48% rodents, 29% insects
Marsh Hawk/Harrier 41% small birds, 33% rodents, 3% insects
Cooper's Hawk 55% small birds, 17% rodents, 3% insects
Sharp-shinned 96% small birds, insects .7%

Sue
Zillah, WA