Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: spatsycat on August 07, 2006, 02:19:42 PM

Title: Red Tailed Hawk
Post by: spatsycat on August 07, 2006, 02:19:42 PM

I live in the Yonge/Eglinton area and for the past 3 days we've had a red tailed hawk flying around screaming constantly. It doesn't seem to be hunting as the massive pigeon flock has been left untouched. Almost seems to be searching for something lost.
It circles up to the north then over west then back down here again.
The cry is so eerie as they are usually pretty quiet. It's almost like a gull cry with that plaintive note at the end - again and again, close together.
If it's lost it's mate, would this explain the behavior?

Title:
Post by: Pat Hodgson on August 08, 2006, 03:50:38 PM

More likely this is a juvenile born this year, calling to encourage the parents to bring food.  These hawks have nested in the Mt Pleasant Cemetery, by now the young ones are flying around so the parents can't just show up at the nest with food - they have to locate the kids!

Title:
Post by: spatsycat on August 09, 2006, 01:01:12 AM

Thanks for the info. Pat
I thought they were coming from the Don River valley as my brother overlooks there and sees them all the time - never thought of Mt. Pleasant cemetery!
I hope it's a juvenile but it seems fairly large and well-coloured.
Wasn't around today so perhaps all is settled.