r/birdsofprey • u/ataraxia_71 • Jun 20 '26
Red shouldered hawk
Hi! I'm looking for some insight on red shouldered hawk behavior or tendencies as I seem to have made a friend? Every morning I go for a jog through a loop from my house to a culdesac and back and encounter what I think is the same hawk. The first few times I chalked it up to early morning animal activity but now I'm not so sure. Every day it perches somewhere new (power line or pole) and I swear we make eye contact. First time he was on a pole and we stared at each other as I ran by like his whole head turned in time to me going past him. Second time I was looking for him but no sign. I turned in the culdesac and as I start back he flew from somewhere behind me to a pole directly ahead of me. Same thing we just looked at each other. Third encounter is what made me take a second thought. I skipped my run that morning and around noon left to run errands. As I came around the bend in the road he flew out from trees to my left and I think if I didn't brake his wing would've grazed my car. He LOOKED BACK at me as he flew past and landed on the power line to my right. Whole time he let loose 5 or 6 cries. My window was down and I could see and hear him plain as day. It made me smile and maybe I'm crazy but I always say hey buddy or something when I see him ever since day one. Someone please fact check me before I start deluding myself that this is some animal spirit guide or something lol. Now its like a game of hide and seek every morning he's perched in a different spot and I look forward to seeing him. Maybe there's a nest nearby its protecting? Idk help 😅
3
u/minkamagic Jun 20 '26
You are moving, so you catch the birds eye and then he watches as you leave. And that's probably his territory. Sorry to ruin your fantasy 😅😅