Red-tail Hawks breathtaking mid-air courting ritual

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

You may have seen Red-tailed Hawks doing this, and wondered if they flew into each other by mistake.  No mistake!  Courting Red-tailed Hawks form pair bonds by clinching their talons together, high in the sky. Once they’re locked together, they start dancing and falling. This aerial show includes swirls, dips, recoveries, and several near-crashes,while still locked together.  But they know exactly what they’re doing. Finally the two Red-tails swoop from harm’s way unscathed, but with a new relationship.

 

 

Art project for kids and birds     Every year, tons of birds collide with windows (they have no understanding of “glass”). Many die. If you have children they may want to paint designs on the outside of your windows using removable water-colors such as Tempera paint. It's particularly important during fall migration - NOW.  It washes off easily with water, and serves as a warning to birds that something’s in front of them. This could be effective at schools with windows, too. 

Know of any?

 

OWEN YOST, in addition to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has lived and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Federation of Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. His office is at Yost87@charter.net in Denton.