Fuana Report

An animal that I find really interesting is the Red-tailed Hawk, or Buteo Jamaicensis. The Hawk lives in majority of North America. The Red-tailed hawk has a 19-24 inches in length and weigh two to four pounds. Females have proved to be 25% larger than the male bird. The Red-tailed hawk gets its name primarily from its tail that is a distinct red color.  Breeding of the hawks happens when they reach a maturity of about three years old. When the hawk creates her nest, it is about 28 to 38 inches in diameter and up to three feet tall. The hawk usually lays at least one to five eggs in April; the eggs then incubate for about 30 days. After the eggs hatch, the mom feeds her babies food for about 45 days after birth. She tears it up to make it easy for the babies to eat, and later will leave it in the nest for them to eat. Red-tailed hawks normally live at the edge of a forest near open fields. The fields are a main source of food for them because this is where rodents normally live. Prey of the Red-tailed hawk consists mostly of rodents. Hawks help farmers by keeping the rodent population in control. If there are fewer rodents, the crops will be more plentiful. The Red-tailed Hawk is very territorial and has special flight patterns to warn other hawks who come near. Females are very agressive when it comes to protecting their nests, and males when it comes to area. Hawks have this same effect in the Elk Refuge.


Citations
Snyder, Noel F.R., and Helen Snyder. Raptors, North American Birds of Prey. 1st. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, Inc., 1991. 90-93. Print.

Pico, Matthew. "Red Tail Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis." Lake Milton Raptor Education Center. Lake Milton Raptor Education Center, n.d. Web. 9 Jun 2010. http://www.raptorcenter.org/red-tailed-hawk.asp

"Red - Tailed Hawk." Desert USA. Desert USA, 2010. Web. 9 Jun 2010. .