I WANTED TO PLACE CACHES THAT HIGHLIGHT AND TEACH OTHERS ABOUT BIRDS OF PREY. I PLACED THESE CACHES WHERE I HAVE SEEN THESE BIRDS. IF YOU COME TO T HIS CACHE WHEN THEY AROUND PLEASE BE SENSITIVE AND RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY BY KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE. COME BACK ANOTHER DAY. THEY DO AVOID THE PRESENCE OF HUMANS AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY.
THE RED TAIL HAWK IS ONE OF 3 HAWKS WE SEE IN COLORADO, AND THE ONE THAT IS IN COLORADO YEAR AROUND. THEY ARE PERMANENT NATIVES OF THE AREA, BUT WE WILL ALSO SEE RED TAIL'S THAT MIGRATE. THEY HUNT AND EAT SMALL MAMMALS LIKE RABBITS, PRAIRIE DOGS, MICE, ETC. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF THEY DO NOT PREY ON DOMESTIC MAMMALS LIKE CATS OR DOGS. YOU CAN BLAME THE GREAT HORNED OWLS FOR THAT. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS ARE A VERY DARK TO LIGHT BROWN CHEST AND WINGS, WITH THE OBVIOUS - THE VERY BRIGHT RED TAIL. IT IS NOT ALWAYS VISIBLE DEPENDING ON THE VIEWING ANGLE, BUT IT IS THE PRIMARY CHARACTERISTIC.
RED TAIL HAWKS ARE SEEN SOARING THESE FIELDS TO THE SOUTH OF THIS CACHE VERY FREQUENTLY. AND IT IS DUE TO THE GAME THAT IS IN THIS OPEN FIELD. ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT SEE A SWAINSON'S HAWK TAKING A GOOD LOOK HERE AS WELL (THEY ARE GONE NOW THOUGH, MIGRATING TO WARMER PASTURES).
THERE IS LEUCISTIC RED TAIL HAWK THAT HAS INHABITED THIS AREA IN THE PAST. IT IS A SINGLE HAWK THAT WAS BORN WITH A GENETIC DISPOSITION THAT IS SEEN ONLY IN SEVERAL THOUSAND HAWKS, AND IT RENDERS IT'S PLUMAGE AS TOTALLY WHITE. THIS HAWK HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE IT WAS RESCUED TWICE. SO IF YOU SEE A HAWK SIZE BIRD THAT IS TOTALLY WHITE, YOU ARE IN LUCK! GO OUT AND BUY A LOTTERY TICKET FAST!
BIRDS OF PREY-RED TAIL HAWK - 2
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