take larger prey such as rabbits and gray squirrels .
Hunting , either for their young on the nest or for themselves , may be done in several ways . The easiest method for the hawk is to perch in a suitable area and watch quietly for prey such as field mice to move about below . Once a mouse is spotted , the Red-tail simply flies or dives out of the tree to catch it and then returns to its perch to resume hunting . However , when the occasion arises , Red-tails can become much more energetic , particularly when trying to catch something like a squirrel . In fact , Red-tailed Hawks are one of the greatest threats to gray squirrels in our forests . It would be safe to say that the squirrel ’ s adaptations of grey camouflage and its habit of slipping behind trunks and quickly seeking refuge in tree holes is the direct result of the pressure placed upon them by hunting Red-tails .
Squirrel chases can last for several minutes as these hawks pursue a squirrel up , down , and
around trees and across the forest floor . Most hunt ends in one of two ways : with the squirrel escaping into a hole ( their leafy nest are not a safe haven ), or being caught . A squirrel is a large meal and may last them a couple of days , so there is incentive to hunt them .
Soar hunting , while not used consistently , is another method of hunting employed by Red-tails . Using a good thermal updraft or a stiff wind , a Red-tailed Hawk can stay above a field almost indefinitely as it searches for mice and other small prey . Once the prey is spotted , the Red-tail will swoop down in a spectacular dive to capture the unsuspecting victim .
A great time to see Red-tails is during Migration . In fall thousands of northern Red-tailed Hawks will stream down the mountain tops in search of better winter feeding grounds . One of their migration pathways is along the Blue Ridge Mountains on the western border of Loudoun County . On cold , blustery days of late October and early November hundreds will pass
by , flying just above the treetops . It is a spectacular sight . Snickers Gap Hawk Watch on Route 7 is one such place to observe them , but there are several other sites too , such as Rockfish Gap , Waggoner ’ s Gap and Hawk Mountain .
Fortunately , you don ’ t often have to wait until migration to see Red-tailed Hawks here in Loudoun . Sometimes all you have to do is take a walk outside . Even as Loudoun County changes from an agrarian landscape to that of a more urban environment , Red-tails are adapting to fit in . This bold and beautiful hawk should grace our skies for a long time to come .
Liam McGranaghan is a retired high school science teacher . He is an avid naturalist , and nature photographer . He has authored several articles on native plants and animals and written a book on falconry . He received a Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators in 2015 .
A version of this article was published in Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy ’ s Habitat Herald , Volume 24 Issue 3 , Summer 2019 .
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