Red Tailed Hawk Frolics in City Pond

[asazisc]

Yeah, they're just like other birds - they'll take baths. It's just not really common for you to see them doing it.

[Necrowitch]

interesting o_o

[Kamoyaker]

Loved it, the Red Tailed Hawk is one of my Favorite Birds.

[Thunderhook715]

I think it was a above normal temp maybe 78 degrees + full sun in late fall The Hawk lets call him Dan after a lunch during a long flight stopped to clean off and cool down. before his next 2-4 mile trip

[GardenGirltv]

His/Her name is Kooky!

[momzilla57]

beautiful animal ...nature at it's finest

[Beardedyoungman]

kooky! that's cool you got a local hawk friend living in nature:) sounds like a healthy place to be living.

Thanks for sharing that never new they take baths=) but then lots of birds do, shrugs

[Praxxus55712]

It's so refreshing seeing a hawk enjoying itself and NOT trying to eat my chickens, peacocks, turkeys, guineas............and my micro doggy. LOL

Absolutely beautiful video Patti! :)

[pwhallon]

Really nice music.

Who is the pianist?

[hunthicks]

Birds of prey do that at the edges of streams and lakes, most likely to clean themselves. I've seen eagles doing it along the shores of lakes. If the hawk was trying to catch fish, he would most likely succeed. Most birds of prey that fish do it from a much higher perch and do not actually jump into the water to catch the fish.

[TheFalconryFan]

I've never know Birds of Prey take baths commonly. I thought they just near water.

[hunthicks]

I'm not sure how frequently they do it, but I've seen them do it. Eagles seem to do it a lot more, especially when the lake has a rocky coastline.

[DawnLaurene]

Ah, the rewards of being good to nature, eh?

[davidnightingale]

5 stars. Either fishing without a permit, or bathing in an unapproved aquatic facility. The bird probably even flew in without first filing a flight plan. The birds deposits could be a safety issue, the water could also be a major health hazard containing all sorts of bugs. All encouraged by unregulated urban gardening, hmm? Growing food without first going on an expensive college farming course, paid for with nice loans, tut tut. Cheers

[blukatzen]

Hey Patti, that was really something to see. We have a Cooper's Hawk that frequents the area here in Chicago. Lots of bird-feeders and bird houses for smaller birds, and the hawks show up for "mealtime", once in awhile. The smaller birds know how to beat a quick retreat, and my upright yews, and other evergreens help them out.

[russtex]

Cool

[earthwayexperience]

Nice...Thanks!

[thomasvvvwww]

gorgeous

[jonathanhaslar]

Are your fish still in that pond? I agree with

jihadacadien that there must be some food down there...

[epigmelo]

good that our relative stopped by and had a place to get some aqua

[timido66]

Great video.

[MissSatyaDanu]

excellent thank you brought a smile to my face

[msfullroller]

Yes it is normal. They've stopped by my bird bath in the backyard and did the full wash. It was rather funny to watch because he/she is almost too big to fit in the bird bath.

[jihadacadien]

Maybe he was trying to eat something in the water? But I've heard that ravenous birds to relatively well in urban settings. Especially if there's pigeons to eat! Great video, it was a wonderfull moment!

[idahodad1]

Better count your little dogs and kitties around the neighborhood. Make sure all are accounted for.

[mclaren779]

Nice vid. I have never seen a hawk hang out on the ground like a chicken.

[demmylowther]

I've never seen someone get that close to a hawk before. Not even close. Amazing !

[zippyman818]

Yes, that's normal; not so much a "frolic" as a quick wash of the tailfeathers. If you were not nearby I think Kooky may have done the "big wash" of the wings and flight feathers.

I think she was also saying, "Whoa, this water's COLD!"

You are much closer than most hawks would allow. There must be good water, a food source, and some nice high places to rest (and dry out) nearby.

It's hard to fly with a wet tail.

[GardenGirltv]

Thanks Zippy! He basically lives here I think. Hasn't gone after my chickens, just the rodents. He was here that time for almost forty five minutes.

[EconoChallenge]

Excellent catch. Thank you for sharing.

[IVOIPSG]

Love the Jazz music...I love these birds of prey.

[skeletonmom]

Thanks for posting. Made my day.

[FatherJudgement2]

We have tons of those awesome birds in Norfolk