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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2627
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:29 pm: | 
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Right on my street in Maplewood. S/he was spectacular. All the other birds were not happy. The jays kept dive bombing. It was spectacular.
In case you couldn't tell, birds of prey are my favorite! Unfortunately, I don't know what kind this one is. I want to say Red Tailed Hawk, but I'm not sure. I'm sure someone out there will know. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 255
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:36 pm: |
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Wow. Beautiful bird. Nice photo, meandtheboys. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8382
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:58 pm: |
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red-tailed hawk. they eat mice (yay!) |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2628
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 5:46 pm: |
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Thanks Cleve. Took a whole bunch but I liked this one best because s/he's looking right at me! The stupid fog made it really difficult to get a great shot. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2629
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 5:54 pm: |
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In this one s/he kind of looks like s/he's smiling? |
Pizzaz
Supporter
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 3053
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 5:58 pm: |
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s/he is sitting on it... I can't tell. 
But I can tell it's a beautiful bird, nice picture taking. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8387
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 6:03 pm: |
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minor touchup
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tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 2987
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 6:15 pm: |
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Meandtheboys:
I love the frill around his chest. He looks very proud of himself. Great photos!!! |
Waxwings
Supporter
Username: Waxwings
Post Number: 71
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 6:27 pm: |
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A beautiful red-tail! Not entirely certain, but looks very much like the "first year", juvenile I often see in the trees behind the library. It watches the dumpster for squirrels and other "rodents". |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2630
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 6:34 pm: |
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Could be waxwings. We're not that far from the library, really, as the red-tail flies. I thought the chest looked like a juvenile too. Maybe I'm really starting to learn my birds!?!?
S/he enjoyed watching my dog run around. But Buster's way too big for a red-tail! |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 200
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 8:18 pm: |
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Waxwings, I've seen it by the library also. One time it was sitting on the egde of that little stone shed type thingy by the pool (on the middle school side of the bridge) we watched as it stood still for about 20 minutes before swooping into the brook/brush, it came up with something pretty big!! |
meluga
Citizen
Username: Meluga
Post Number: 58
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 8:37 pm: |
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Great shot. Thank you |
mooewe
Citizen
Username: Mooewe
Post Number: 311
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 9:29 am: |
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I was standing on the train platform yesterday morning and a huge bird off in one of the trees that was probably near the Burgdorff Center. It was probably this guy - great photos, thanks! |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5567
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 9:59 am: |
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We have one that lives near by. My son and I see him/her alot. Watched him/her snag a pigeon off my roof one evening. It was really cool. But the explosion of feathers we found in the back yard was a little hard to explain to a little boy who was sad that the pigeon was, uh, gone. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2631
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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Ah, yes, the cycle of life. Very difficult to explain to the little ones. Makes me sad sometimes too, but it is what it is, I guess.
Cool story Duncan.
Guess I'll be keeping an eye out for this beauty when I'm out and about. Seems like lots of people have had close encounters! |
Waxwings
Supporter
Username: Waxwings
Post Number: 72
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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In a very real way, the Red-tail Hawk's adaptation to the ever expanding suburban, urban and city environments is to witness Darwin's theory in action. Also, unfortunately, the other side of the theory is happening to a much greater number of species of raptors. The Red-shouldered Hawk, another Buteo, closely related to the Red-tail is not adapting at all, hence it's numbers have decreased alarmingly over the last 20 years. No one, that I know of, is certain why two very closely related species of raptors, with almost identical food and nesting requirements are faring so differently. |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 2855
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 1:16 pm: |
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Thanks so much, Meand, and also Waxwings. Raptors make my heart soar. There are so many down here in NJ compared to in Boston where I used to live. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5569
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 1:22 pm: |
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Heck, my son has seen more Bald Eagles in the wild in his 5 years than I did in my previous 40.
We saw one fly low and slow over the NJTPK down south last spring.
And you are right ESL...not many raptors in Boston, from whence we hail as well. Cept for the Osprey's "down the cape"
Northern vermont on the other hand.. |
tabby
Citizen
Username: Tabby
Post Number: 235
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 4:03 pm: |
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What a gorgeous bird! We love raptors as well and make a couple of trips each year to the Raptor Trust in Millington next to the Great Swamp. I love to see the birds of prey "up close and personal". |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2638
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 4:10 pm: |
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Ah, yes. The Raptor Trust is one of my favorite places too. The snowy owls are my favorite, but only by a thin margin. The kestrals, bald eagles and red-tails are spectacular too.
It's just so much more breathtaking to see them in the wild, and in my neighborhood! That's the best kind of "up close and personal" for my money! Now, if only I could figure a way to get them to land on my hand! |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 799
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 7:47 pm: |
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Perhaps there are a few of his kind around. About 2 weeks ago I got some pictures of a bird that looked exactly like this one (Maybe the same bird) sitting in my front yard. I should actually say he was sitting on top of a dead squirrel in my front yard. He just sat there for a long time while I took pictures of him. After a while he ate most of the squirrel and disappeared into the sky. He left behind most of the skin and what appeared to by the little heart of the animal.
The picture are on a digital camera, so I will see if I can find them to put them on this thread.
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Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 800
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 8:07 pm: |
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Here are a couple:
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Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 801
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 8:10 pm: |
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joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 375
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 8:44 pm: |
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Hard to say. I think they are two different birds. Looking at the markings that frame the chest. But it looks like the Mayor's bird has his feathers all puffed out, and his head turned - so it's a tough call... |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2646
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 10:27 pm: |
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Great pictures Mayor. Incredible. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 259
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 9:46 am: |
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You've all inspired me to try to hang up this stupid, fancy, heavy bird feeder I got my husband for christmas. |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 100
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Our house came with a bird feeder by the kitchen window, and we get tons of cardinals and, my favorite, mourning doves, as well as others.
The other day my daughter alerted me to a flock of black birds that had literally covered the back yard. I went to look, then all of a sudden they flew away, leaving behind a bird like the one in the picture, who subsequently spread its wings and flew off with a small animal in its claws. Amazing.
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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2649
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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Well, it sure seems our red-tail friends are very busy and getting around, and finding no shortage of food around here!
Did a side-by-side comparison of my photo and Mayor's photo, and it seems to me the markings on the chest are different. Which means we have more than one juvenile red-tail in town.
And I just find that so exciting.
Cleve, yes, hang up that feeder. There are lots of really great birds that stick around for the winter and are always looking for food! |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 543
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 10:32 am: |
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I often see a hawk circling overhead in our neighborhood too (between Prospect and Valley near CHS). This weekend I also noticed an 'explosion of feathers' (as Duncan described it) in our driveway. I hadn't put 2+2 together until now, but now I realize that our hawk must have gotten his prey. |
Barbara Huuber
Citizen
Username: Barbhuber
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 9:02 am: |
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My husband Chet saw 2 flying over Maplecrest Park. He wasn't sure what they were at the time, and came home and id'd them by their call. The Internet is a wonderful thing! |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 5676
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 9:29 am: |
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Roasted Herb Rubbed Red Tail Hawk
1 red tailed hawk, plucked and gutted
1/4 cup snipped fresh herbs (such as basil, rosemary, marjoram, or sage) or 4 teaspoons dried mixed herbs, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups 1/2-inch-long carrot pieces
1 cup pearl onions, peeled
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed
Fresh rosemary (optional)
Directions
1. For herb rub, combine the herbs, salt, and pepper. Rinse red tailed hawk; pat dry with paper towels. Loosen skin on red tailed hawk. Using your fingers, carefully spread half of the herb rub under the skin. Skewer neck skin to back; tie legs to tail. Twist wings under back.
2. Place red tailed hawk breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. If desired, insert a meat thermometer into center of an inside thigh muscle. Roast, uncovered, in a 375 degree F oven for 30 minutes.
3. In a 1-1/2-quart casserole combine carrots and onions. Toss with the remaining herb rub and the olive oil. Cover; place in oven. Roast about 45 minutes more or until the red tailed hawk is no longer pink, juices run clear (the meat thermometer, if using, should register 180 degrees F), and vegetables are tender, adding peas to the casserole the last 15 minutes of roasting. If desired, garnish with fresh rosemary. Makes 6 servings.
Bon apetite!
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