I believe I have been photographing this hawk, or its mate, for 4 years now. Each year it seems to have allowed me to approach closer, now ignoring me while perched and hunting. I have a theory about this. A larger, Red-tailed Hawk has been showing up more frequently in recent years, but it departs as soon as I point a camera at it (like so many raptors). My guess is that the Red-shouldered Hawk, recognizing I am not a threat, knows the Red-tailed Hawk won’t bother it while I am in sight. Raptors are smart. If Grizzly Bear 399 (a famous Yellowstone Bear) can learn to protect her young from male Grizzlies by hanging out closer to people, perhaps this Red-shouldered Hawk has come to a similar conclusion about my presence.
Country United States
State Massachusetts
Location Near the Cedar Lake Dam, Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Gender Unknown
Age Adult
Activity Hunting
- Created Timestamp12/27/2024 14:53:45
- CameraCanon EOS R7
- Aperture7.1
- CreditRonald Zigler
- Focal Length500
- Iso1600
- Shutter Speed1/5000
Interesting conjecture – certainly sounds plausible. Beautiful shot, too.
Love this shot!