Ambassador Profile: Blizzard the Red-Tailed Hawk
By Noah Eisengrein (article)
Perhaps one of our most recognizable raptors in North America is the red-tailed hawk, well known for their rusty red tail feathers. In the wild, these birds are at the top of their game, sporting incredible sensory abilities and top-notch survival skills. At Echoes of Nature, we are lucky enough to be able to closely interact with this species every single day, because one of them lives with us! Blizzard the red-tailed hawk is one of our most beloved ambassadors, and today we’re going to share why he and his species are so special.
Red-tailed hawks live across much of North America and Central America as permanent residents. Some choose to migrate throughout the year while others opt to stay, making them “partial migrants”. They prefer habitats with a mix of forests and fields, which make the best hunting environments. These birds love to sit in the trees or soar overhead and look out into the fields for their next meal, which may be small rodents, rabbits, smaller birds, snakes, and lizards. They have incredible eyesight and are said to be able to spot a rabbit from one mile away. If we could see as well as a red-tailed hawk, that would be like if we could stand on the roof of a seven-story building, look all the way down at the ground, and read a newspaper! As impressive as that is, red-tailed hawks are very far-sighted and may have a harder time seeing objects up close.
The difference between male and female red-tailed hawks usually lies in their size. Males usually stand about 18-22 inches tall and have a wingspan up to 56 inches, while females are typically about 12-26 inches tall and may have a wingspan closer to 44 inches. They can weigh anywhere from 2-4 pounds. Our ambassador Blizzard is on the smaller side as far as males go, and we closely monitor his weight and adjust the quantity of his diet accordingly throughout the year. These birds will mate throughout late winter and early spring, and once they find a partner, they will mate for life. They will nest high off the ground, and the female will lay 1-3 eggs in early to mid-spring. The eggs will hatch about a month later, after which the male takes on the important job of finding food and returning it to the nest for the chicks and their mother. After a couple of months, the chicks will venture out on their own, and once they mature after about three years, the cycle begins again.
Blizzard the red-tailed hawk was adopted by Echoes of Nature from 2nd Chance Wildlife Center in Gaithersburg, MD in 2011. He was a wild-born chick who ended up at the shelter in 2000 after he was caught in a snowstorm (hence the name, Blizzard) and blown into a car. He was lucky not to break any bones, but after some time in rehabilitation, he was deemed non-releasable due to a number of lingering cognitive and physical complications. In other words, there are some ways in which his brain no longer communicates with his body in the way it’s supposed to. For example, Blizzard was found to have a hard time navigating when attempting to fly. Part of this may be rooted in the fact that he has also lost sight in his left eye.
Blizzard is also virtually unable to “make a fist” with his feet, and that is a big issue. An inability to close his feet means an inability to properly use his talons, which in turn means an inability to catch his own prey. Raptors, or “birds of prey” like red-tailed hawks, possess needle-sharp claws on their toes called talons. When they catch their prey, these birds will reach out with their feet and grab the prey, and the sharp talons assist in killing the prey. More than that, the natural “resting” state of birds’ feet is closed, the opposite of our hands. This allows for birds to perch on moving branches in the wind and even sleep there without falling down. Their feet close around the branch when they relax and allow them to hold on while sleeping. So, not only does Blizzard’s lack of ability to close his feet prevent him from hunting his own food, but he would have a hard time perching in a tree on a windy day.
For reasons like these, Blizzard remained in rehabilitation until 2011 when he was adopted by Echoes of Nature, and we’ve had him ever since. That means we’ve had him for about 13 years, which is special because he has now been an ambassador for much longer than he ever would have lived in the wild. Wild red-tailed hawks may live up to about 7 years, but Blizzard is predicted to be closer to about 25 - the same age as instructor Noah! Blizzard lives happily at our facility in an outdoor enclosure where he loves to sit on his perch. We bring him mice every day and use a falconry glove to help him up and down from the ground where he eats.
Blizzard is truly a treasure for us to have at Echoes of Nature, and we are always happy to bring him out into the world to allow people to connect with such an extraordinary bird they may have in their own backyards. Next time you spot a bird soaring overhead, take a look for that rusty red tail! You just might have a red-tailed hawk on your hands. But remember - if you ever find a red-tailed hawk feather on the ground, make sure to leave it be. It might seem like a cool item to bring home, but these birds are considered sacred by many Native American cultures, and therefore there are various laws in the US which prohibit the possession of any part of a raptor unless under special circumstances. It’s much better to look with your eyes and leave no trace!