4 other birders and I saw something both amazing and strange to us yesterday. A large female adult Redtail had been observed. She flew into the area and perched. Eventually she took flight and a sub-adult(you fill in the correct terminalogy..I dont know my gull phases) Ring-billed Gull aggrevated the Redtail. Suddenly from above,the Redtail dropped and grabbed the gull. It continued to fly with the gull,the gull struggling to get free the whole time. The Redtail landed with the gull on a light standard,where it appeared to be trying to kill and eat the gull. The gull still flapping for its life,the Redtailed Hawk finally dropped it. Out of reflex the gull flew briefly before crashing to the ground. It had a broken wing and leg. Eventually the gull disappeared,though we didnt observe where to. The whole situation seemed very strange behavior for a Redtail. Ive observed a nesting pair for 5 years,and though the pair had run off many gulls,it was nothing like this. Further this wasnt anywhere near a Redtailed Hawks nest.
