June 15, 2008
Red-tailed Hawk! A Live Animal Program
Natasha Hawke, a falconer, brought this young Red-tailed Hawk that she has trained for hunting, for children and adults to see up close. The bird did not seem alarmed by an audience of more than 20 people, and even ate two mice while sitting on Natasha's gloved hand. Red-tails are our largest local hawk, with a wingspan up to 48 inches. The wild birds live on squirrels, pigeons, rabbits, and other small animals. At least one pair for the past 5 years has nested and raised young in a tree on the Reservation near the Fresh Pond rotary.