Subject: [Tweeters] Several answers
Date: Jan 13 12:39:52 2012
From: Bud Anderson - falconresearch at gmail.com


The hawk/snake series making the rounds looks pretty authentic to me.

The raptor is a very wet, juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Dumb move on its part
(supposed to bite the snakes head first) but then that is really typical
for a juvenile learning the ropes. I guess such naivete is typical among
all vertebrates, including us. Looks warm like summer in the photos so the
hawk is likely just starting out in life. But that was a close call.

Really glad to see Kelly trying to ID the snake as I can't help there.

Concerning the nocturnal RTHA hunting, I have not heard of this behavior
among Red-tails before (maybe someone else has) but there are many records
of peregrines hunting at night including in downtown Seattle.

The freeway hunt makes perfect sense to me in winter if the bird is hungry
and there were lots of lights to illuminate its prey. Pretty cool sighting
and no doubt a new evolutionary trend,* Buteo nocturnalis*
.
What about the competition with local Great Horned Owls?

--
Bud Anderson
Falcon Research Group
Box 248
Bow, WA 98232
(360) 757-1911
falconresearch at gmail.com
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