I recently found this calm, cool and collected Red-tailed Hawk hanging out over a pond and not minding a few gawkers like myself passing by for a look and a photo or two. Some birds are just more habituated to humans than others, and this one was content to sit here peacefully – even the songbirds were not paying it any attention. Occasionally it would look down at the frogs below, perhaps pondering about having them as a snack or looking for a snake.
For the most part mammals are the biggest part of the menu for them, and maybe this bird was being inquisitive more than anything else. Instead of assuming this was an ignorant and far too trustful individual perhaps it was a smart one, exploring and learning about its environment and knowing the people near the pond were no threat. It might be the case that both of us were contemplating the world and its life.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
