Canatara’s “Resident” Red-tailed Hawk

The juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that has been living in Canatara Park for the past year or so is quite accustomed to being around people. It recently flew past me and landed in a tree, facing into the sun. I watched as it stayed on the knobby end of the branch and rotated its body 180 degrees, teetering on its feet until its back was to the sun!

It remained with wings outstretched for 2 full minutes. Birds can benefit from "sun bathing' as it helps with feather maintenance and parasite control. Sunlight can kill harmful bacteria and parasites that may be hiding in feathers. The warmth also makes it easier for birds to remove dirt and parasites when preening.

https://www.earthofbirds.com/why-do-birds-spread-their-wings-in-the-sun/

Before leaving the perch, the Red-tailed Hawk preened its warmed feathers as it continued to soak up the sun! The adult red tail feathers are starting to grow in. Juveniles don't get red feathers until the start of the second year.

The very next day, I saw the same Red-tailed Hawk. It hunted unsuccessfully for a squirrel and then took a rest, once again with wings outspread and back facing the sun! The squirrel on the tree trunk that it tried to catch is looking down at the hawk in the upper photo. 

Red-tailed Hawk populations have increased since the 1960's. This species can often be found sitting on fence posts watching and listening for nearby prey. Across North America and Europe, many hawk populations are rebounding after decades of decline due to pesticide use and habitat loss. The banning of DDT in the 1970's in many countries marked a turning point. Conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and regulated hunting also contributed to recovery. Protecting and restoring natural habitats such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands, provide essential resources for hawks. Healthy prey populations including rodents, birds and reptiles, provide a stable food source. The adaptable Red-tailed Hawk is thriving in both rural and urban environments. Long-term monitoring programs such as e-bird, track population changes over time. Raptor Rehabilitation Centers collect valuable data on injuries, illnesses, and mortality rates. Citizen Science initiatives help to engage the public in valuable data collection.

https://iere.org/are-hawk-populations-increasing/

Red-tailed Hawk, light morph - looking down at me!