Over the past week I have observed a rather "tame" redtail hawk in and
around the Fletcher Wildlife Gardens and Experimental Farm area. Over the
course of a few days starting on the weekend of July 22nd the habit of this
redtail hawk was somewhat predictable. It could be found perched on top of
the red barn at the FWG in the morning and once again in the late afternoon.
It could stay perched in the same spot for over an hour. From the barn it
would fly and perch on one of the poles along Prince of Wales. I have also
seen it hunt from this perch.
I lost track of it for a few days until I spotted it again this past
weekend. While driving along Baseline Road near Fisher on Saturday morning
(around 11am) I saw the redtail hawk drift overhead across my car. It
landed on top of a wood pole on Baseline Road near the corner of Fisher. It
stayed there for some time until some crows made it feel unwelcome. It flew
about 200 yards and landed on another pole this time on Fisher near the
corner of Baseline. From there it flew once again further down Fisher and
landed on top of a much higher hydro pole. Later in the day (around 6pm) I
saw the redtail hawk land in a tree directly across the street from the main
entrance of the Fletcher Wildlife Gardens on Prince of Wales. Although I
saw the tree where it landed (one of two tall trees on the right side soon
as you enter the driveway that is located across the road from the FWG
entrance) I still had a hard time picking it out as it blended in well
amongst the branches. A cardinal took exception to the hawk's presence and
sounded the alert the whole time while perched just to the right and above
the redtail hawk. After a bit of this the hawk flew across the road and
landed on top of the red barn at FWG.
On Sunday morning I saw the redtail hawk again in one of the same two trees
as the evening before. This time a crow was sounding the alert near where
the hawk was perched.
I mention this hawk because it is unusually "tame" and is near the downtown
area of Ottawa. Once perched it pays hardly any attention to anybody that
happens to be nearby. Now, most redtail hawks I have seen in the wild would
not let you get near them. So, it is rather unusual to be able to observe
this redtail hawk so close.
An image from the July 22nd weekend (in front of FWG on Prince of Wales):
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/63992187
An image from this past Saturday (directly across the road from the FWG
entrance on Prince of Wales):
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/64276129
Directions to FWG courtesy of www.neilyworld.com: "From Highway 417 (The
Queensway) take exit 121A to Bronson Avenue. Avoid doing this during
rushhour! Proceed SSE on Bronson 0.4 km to Carling Avenue and turn right or
southwest onto it. Proceed 0.6 km to Preston Street and turn left or south
onto it. Drive 0.1 km to the T-junction and turn right or southwest onto
Prince of Wales Drive. Go 1.0 km (0.4 km past the traffic circle) and turn
left or ESE into the entrance of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden at the Central
Experimental Farm." For more info and directions to the Experimental Farm
area see: http://ca.geocities.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/rideauw9.htm
W.H.
Ottawa, Ontario.
