Timothy Stark Raisbeck

Sun hitting a Pecan tree at just the right time, produces beautiful depth with the shadows on the front of the hay barn.

The day may have been misty and overcast but I couldn’t resist stopping and taking a picture of this Red-Tailed Hawk next to the road. Not the best picture but a certain “winterish” feel to the scene. The hawk tends to meld into the background but without leaves on the tree, one can see the size and feel the weight of such a bird.

I love the hawk. For me they are one of the most fascinating birds that God put on the Earth. Such a majesty and grace about them. They seem to be quite a “loner” but in reality they are very devoted to their mate and only leave the relationship if the mate dies. At that point they go in search of another.

The Red Tailed Hawk typically weighs from 690 to 1600 grams (1.5 to 3.5 pounds) and measures 45–65 cm (18 to 26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110 to 145 cm (43 to 57 in).

It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Because they are so common and easily trained as capable hunters, the majority of hawks captured for falconry in the United States are Red-tails.

In flight, this hawk soars with wings in a slight dihedral, flapping as little as possible to conserve energy. Active flight is slow and deliberate, with deep wing beats. In wind, it occasionally hovers on beating wings and remains stationary above the ground. When soaring or flapping its wings, it typically travels from 20 to 40 mph (64 km/h), but when diving may exceed 120 mph (190 km/h). When the Red-tailed Hawk walks, its steps are slow and awkward.

Because of its robust crispness, a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is a cliché cinematic sound effect. This high, piercing scream is often featured in the background of adventure movies to give a sense of wilderness to the scene. However, the cry is often inaccurately used for the Bald Eagle, whose own vocalizations are quite different and less robust.

Snow came to our little town on December 04. Depending on where you were you might have had up to 3” worth of the new fallen blanket.

On the average our area receives snow every 7 years. I believe it has been about 5 or 6 years since the last snow fall and that was on Christmas Eve, which made it even more special. The snow never sticks around long but to most people it is always a joy to see. We have hot and humid weather for so much of the year that for many it is a welcome change.

Having grown up in the midwest, seeing a little snow fall always brings back memories. Our house was situated at the top of the street so when the snow came my brother and I were poised to throw on our winter gear, grab our sleds and head for the hill. A little bit of ice made the runs even faster.

We co-exist with many varieties of birds on our ranch. Birds of prey are very common. I happened to shoot this video the other day as a Mississippi Kite was perched high overhead at the top of a Pecan tree.

INTERESTING FACTS:
The body length and wingspan of the Mississippi Kite and Peregrine Falcon are similar, but the Peregrine Falcon can be 3 times heavier. Lightweight bodies give kites a buoyant flight.

The male and female Mississippi Kite share the incubation duties. Each bird usually feeds itself when it is not incubating the eggs. In contrast, many female raptors provide most of the incubation, while the male supplies her with food at the nest.

We are fortunate to have quite a few Pecan trees on our property. There are numerous Pecan tree plantations in the area and Texas is just behind Georgia as the leading harvester of the nuts. The nut harvest for growers is typically around mid-October. In 1919 the 36th Texas Legislature made the Pecan tree the state tree of Texas. In southeast Texas, the Texas Pecan Festival is celebrated every year. In 1909 then Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg asked that a Pecan tree be planted at his grave instead of a traditional headstone, requesting that the nuts be distributed throughout the state to make Texas a “Land of Trees”.