A Red Tail Hawk soars overhead.
Red Tail Hawk and Other Wildlife
It is such a wonderful blessing to live in an area with so many great opportunities to experience nature and wildlife. Even in the less rural, more urban areas in the Sacramento-Stockton corridor wildlife abounds. Around the office where I work at Mather Field I have seen everything from this Red Tail Hawk to coyotes. There are reported sightings of raccoon and beaver in the area, and wild turkeys are always someplace nearby. The Burrowing Owl images posted on this blog were all taken here, and they are back. I saw one on the drive in this morning, and if this year is anything like last year there will be plenty more. Probably around 30 to 50.
For some interesting facts about Red Tail Hawks check out this page at National Geographic. They are the most common hawk in north America and not all of them have a red tail. They are also know as buzzard hawks. Red-tailed hawks are monogamous and may mate for life returning to nesting spots year after year. The pair I have observed has been nesting in the same spot for at least the past three years.
Look up from your devices, drive a little slower, pay attention to what is around you, and you just might see the wonderful creatures we share this planet with. It doesn’t take going on a safari to see wildlife. It is all around us. We just need to slow down, look up, and pay attention.
Shot Data
Canon 60D w/ EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens @ 135mm from 12 meters. f/7.1, 1/1000 sec., ISO 200; handheld.
ARBayne Photography
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