What attracts red tailed hawk to some airports?
The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most widely distributed hawks in the Americas. It breeds from central Alaska, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories east to southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and south to Florida, the West Indies, and Central America. The winter range stretches from southern Canada south throughout the remainder of the breeding range. Its preferred habitat is mixed forest and field, with high bluffs or trees that may be used as perch sites. It occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous woodlands, tropical rainforests, agricultural fields and urban areas. It is second only to the Peregrine Falcon in the use of diverse habitats in North America. It lives throughout the North American continent, except in areas of unbroken forest or the high Arctic. The Red-tailed Hawk is widespread in North America, partially due to historic settlement patterns, which have benefited it. The clearing of f
airports often are a magnet for wildlife because airport owners are required to also own the property around runways that is often rented to farmers. While that increases the airports’ income, the crops can attract animals looking for food. What you have planted affects what type of animals will be there, Rhodes said. Even if you have certain grasses, you have small mammals that eat those, and those attract red-tailed hawks. A red-tailed hawk can bring down a small plane as fast as anything. Sources: http://www.redorbit.
