Red-Tailed Hawk –
The red-tailed hawk is the most common bird of prey on the plains and for most of North America. I see them year round sitting in the highest trees and telephone poles. My wildlife book says they mostly prey on small rodents, other birds and reptiles. I think they catch a lot of baby rabbits because they are always eating them when I study them with binoculars.
I read a book about native-Americans one time and it said that birds of prey were ‘Big Medicine’. Some of the Indian tribes believed that the power and beauty of hawks and eagles was very important. They believed that to see one or to have their feathers on their clothes or headdresses imparted that power to the tribe or to the person. They thought these birds were very special.
I’m not sure if that’s true, but I kind of have the same feeling when I see a red-tailed hawk. Big Medicine.
