Red Car Property: Red Shouldered HawksWhy Trees Matter

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 21, 2016. As I walked south on the Red Car Property from the historic landmark viaduct footings, I heard the telltale sound of a mockingbird harassing a predator.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)  

If you want to see more hawks, learn the pissed off calls of mockingbirds.  This one chased a Red Shouldered Hawk to a branch high in a tree on Lot C of the Red Car Property.  I watched as the mockingbird dive bombed the hawk and hopped from branch to branch of a tree that had not resprouted leaves this spring.  The little bird was fearless and relentless in its noisy display.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 21, 2016.  While the mockingbird focused the bulk of its energy on the hawk near the top of the tree, it kept diving into the dense branches at the center of this clump of trees.  At this time of year, that could mean a recently fledged hawk was hanging around in the relative safety of the trees.  

If you walk the Red Car Property regularly, you know how narrow this trail passageway is.  I didn't see the second hawk until I was within 10' of the trees. The bright backlighting worked in the hawk's favor, as the feathers on its back and wings look like dappled light coming through the leaves.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 21, 2016.  I felt privileged to witness a Red Shouldered Hawk so close, at eye level.  Both hawks kept an eye on me and my on-leash dog as I snapped photos blindly, hoping to catch a good shot.  Sadly, this was the best I could do. 

I don't know if it was a mated pair or one or two recently fledged Red Shouldered Hawks. In the past few years, we've documented Red Shouldered Hawks on the north end of the Red Car Property almost exclusively.

The north end of the Red Car Property is Red Shouldered Hawk territory, most likely because it is the closest urban forested area to the LA River in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, with such a large swath of trees clear cut from the adjacent Riverside Drive lots, as well as a portion of the Red Car Property, it remains to be seen if Red Shouldered Hawks will continue calling the Red Car Property home.

Learn more about Red Shouldered Hawks: Cornell University's All About Birds

Most of the time, we've seen Red Shouldered Hawks in California Black Walnut trees.  
Click here for all our Red Shouldered Hawk posts. 

Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase: Red-Shouldered Hawk Expanding Territiory?

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 8, 2015, 8:50 AM.  I'd never seen an adult Red-Shouldered Hawk this far south in the neighborhood:  on the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase, between the Red Car Property and Lake View Ave.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Once again, songbirds alerted me to a nearby hawk.  They were giving a funky alarmed call that I did not recognize, as I walked up the public staircase from the Red Car Property.  (Perhaps they have different alarm calls for different hawks, it was not their Red Tailed Hawk alarm call.) 

So I stopped, searching through the trees, not immediately realizing the Red-Shouldered Hawk was directly above me.  Luckily, I caught a few frames before it flew south through some very dense trees in backyards on the Lake View Ave side of the Red Car Property.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 8, 2015.  The red arrow points to where the hawk was perched in the tree.  (Photo was taken after it took off.)  It was scanning the dense brush beneath the power lines for prey.  

When it took off, it was calling, as if it were searching for its fledged youngsters from this spring.  It continued calling when it landed in a palm tree further south on Lake View and again, as it flew even further south into the forested steep slope between Lake View and Silver Ridge.  There I lost sight of the forest dwelling bird.  We've seen similar calling from the Red Tail Hawk parents when they call to their youngsters, which they feed for up to a year.   

It shouldn't be too surprising to see Red-Shouldered Hawks this far south off the Red Car Property, since the north end of the Red Car Property is no longer densely forested because so many big Eucalyptus trees died and were removed in the past 2 years.  

The north end of the property near Adelbert seemed to be Red-Shouldered Hawk territory.  The slot between India and Roselin, as well as Red Car Canyon, Lake View and the top of Silver Ridge belonged to Cooper's Hawks.  While the south end and the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract was claimed by the big Red Tailed Hawks who nest on the 2 Freeway at Rosebud Ave.  

This year, there's not been a clear pattern of raptor sightings as in years past.  Between drought and habitat destruction of the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract, the balance of power in the raptor world may be all screwed up in our neighborhood. 

Learn more about Red-Shouldered Hawks: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Red Car Property: North End Is Red-Shouldered Hawk Territory

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 5, 2015.  I admit, when I shot this photo, I could not see what species of hawk it was, but suspected it was a Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).  Indeed, It was. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Red-Shouldered Hawks are forest dwelling hawks that also like to hang out near water.  So the north end of the Red Car Property and the hills above it, with its proximity to the LA River,  are ideal territory.  I have only occasionally seen them elsewhere in the neighborhood.  I've shot all but one photo of Red-Shouldered Hawks in the stretch of the Red Car Property adjacent to Adelbert Ave. In our neighborhood, it is their preferred urban forest territory.
 
I had stopped to take photos of some wildflowers on Adelbert when a hawk flew through the dense trees overhead, calling the whole time, landing in one of the huge native Black Walnut Trees just below the Red Car Property, off Riverside Drive. I managed to catch a few frames before it took off in the direction of Riverside & Fletcher.  

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 5, 2015.  The tree in the center is the California Black Walnut the Red Shouldered Hawk perched briefly, and took off before I could get a wide shot.  (Maybe it was because I was juggling the dog, a phone and a camera at the same time.)

Unfortunately, even the north end of the Red Car Property has been hit hard by the megadrought.  More than a dozen large Eucalyptus were removed last year after they died (due to extreme fire danger & their proximity to homes).  It dramatically changed the the ecosystem on this end of the property.  Not only is there a lot less shade, it's now hotter and drier.  Even the native trees are not doing as well as they usually do during the summer months on the north end of the property. 

Click here for all our Red-Shouldered Hawk posts.

Adelbert Ave: Can You Find The Red Shouldered Hawk In This Photo?

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 8, 2014. If I had not seen the Mockingbird chasing the Red Shouldered Hawk, I never would have seen it, because the feathers on its back camouflaged so well with the tree canopy.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 8, 2014.  Zoomed in from the previous photo, you can see those namesake red shoulders.

Learn more about Red Shouldered Hawks: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Red Car Property: If You Want To Find Hawks Follow The Mockingbirds

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 8, 2014.  While walking near Adelbert on the north end of the Red Car Property, I heard the tell-tail sound of a Mockingbird harassing a hawk.  (That's a Mockingbird flying just behind the Red-Shouldered Hawk in the above photo.)  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Mockingbirds have a distinctive, pissed-off call they use when they are chasing off predators like hawks & cats.  They will harass a hawk for hours.  Since the action was in the California Black Walnut Trees above me, I knew it was a hawk.  It took me several minutes to find the hawk, as it was so well camouflaged among the trees.   (More on this tomorrow.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 8, 2014.  I had never been so close (35 to 40') from a Red-Shouldered Hawk.  It was just a beautiful creature doing its best to ignore the Mockingbird.  

It may or may not have been the same Red-Shouldered Hawk I saw a week ago in the same area.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 8, 2014.  Just as I zoomed out to get an establishing shot, the Hawk took off first in one direction, then the other on Adelbert, eventually landing in some trees across the semi-rural street (more tomorrow).  The arrow points to the branch where the hawk was  sitting.
 

Red Car Property: Red Shouldered Hawk*

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 3, 2014.  A Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) showed off its scenic plumage on one of the recently trimmed, dying Eucalyptus trees near the historic viaduct footings.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 3, 2014.  The hawk was likely drying out from the rain & extreme humidity Saturday night.  I've watched the Red Tailed Hawks do this routine in the trees outside my house after every rainstorm.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 3, 2014.  Red Shouldered Hawks are seen fairly regularly by residents on Adelbert.  According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they are a forest dwelling hawk that will live "in some suburban areas where houses and other buildings are mixed into woodlands."   That pretty much describes the north end of the Red Car Property - for sure.   

Red Shouldered Hawks also like to hunt on the edge of rivers, although Cornell says nothing of how they've adapted to concrete lined rivers, like the LA River.  The historic landmark viaduct footings are just 2 blocks from the Los Angeles River.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 3, 2014.  It is, however, very special to witness one of these magnificent Red Shouldered Hawks in the neighborhood.  They do tend to stay well hidden in the trees.  The Red Car Property affords people the opportunity to get close to nature on a trail a few hundred feet from the 5 Freeway.

*Updated with new Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 3, 2014.  In case there was any doubt the Red Shouldered Hawk was on one of the dying trees on the Red Car Property.

Learn more about Red Shouldered Hawks: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Click here for all our Red Shouldered Hawk related posts.

Red Car Property: Stormwatch, First Rain of The Season

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 3, 2014.  A Red Shouldered Hawk stood watch over Riverside Drive & the 5 Freeway Sunday morning.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)  

We're tracking rain in the Corralitas rain gauge.  The official season started July 1.
August 2 - 3, 2014: 0.06"
Season to date: 0.06" 
2013-2014 Season total: 7.55" (That's a big drought.) 

Corralitas Drive: Hawkwatch 2014

Photo: Esteban Gonzalez, February 5, 2014.  Gonzalez was fortunate to capture photos of "2 awesome hawks outside my balcony. The one on the post is obviously having lunch."  Lunch certainly look like the Red Tails are dining on squirrel.

Indeed, we've seen similar behavior in our resident Red Tailed Hawks at the same time, last year.  It's hard to tell from the cell phone photo, but it may well be an adult feeding one of last year's brood, who is not yet adept at catching squirrels. 

Nesting season began February 1. At a 2 Freeway Terminus meeting last year, CalTrans publicly stated, they will not work within 1000' of nesting raptors.  We'll see how that works out when they start on the sound walls on the 2 Freeway.   

Be on the lookout for Red Tails flying to & from Corralitas & the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract & their nest on Allesandro & Rosebud. They'll be calling to each other a lot soon. 

Cooper's Hawks tend to mate & nest in the area around Riverside Place & Red Car Canyon.  I almost always see Cooper's Hawks near the historic landmark How House on Silver Ridge. 

Red Shouldered Hawks nest on the northern end of the Red Car Property near Adelbert.

Kestrels were making a comeback, seen on Corralitas & the meadow area of the Red Car Property. 

Red Car Property: eBirding Weekend, The Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15-18

Photo: Diane Edwardson, Red-Shouldered Hawks tend to hang out at the northern end of the Red Car Property, near Adelbert & the historic viaduct footings.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

To further participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb 15-18,  Cornell Lab of Ornithology is offering their eBird App for iPhone & Android for $.99. (Normally it's $9.99.) 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, Red Tailed Hawks are everywhere.  They're the largest hawks in the neighborhood, and we've got some exceptionally large Red Tails.

 

I sometimes get questions about what birds are in the neighborhood.  I only know raptors.  These are the big 3 raptors in the Red Car Property neighborhood. 

Photo: Diane Edwrdson.  Cooper's Hawks are the smallest and most elusive of the three hawks, and have wide black & white horizontally stripped tails, visible from below.  I saw a Cooper's Hawk up on Silver Ridge late Sunday afternoon.

 

So if you're an avid bird watcher or an amateur wanting to learn more about birds in our neighborhood, download the ebird app & start birding.  

Red Car Property: More Red-Shouldered Hawk

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 3, 2012, 11:13 AM.  The size of the Red-Shouldered Hawk's eyes in relation to its head is impressive, giving it excellent eyesight.  (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

 

Had to use a few more of the Red Shouldered Hawk photos.  The hawk was way up in one of the trees above the historic viaduct footings.   Click here for the hawk's approximate point of view.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 3, 2012, 11:14 AM.  It always amazes me how dense their feathers are when they poof them out. 

Red Car Property: Rarely Seen Red-Shouldered Hawk Near Adelbert

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 3, 2012, 11:07 AM.  The Red-Shouldered Hawks use the thick canopy of trees on Adelbert end of the Red Car Property to stalk their prey, and mock me.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

 

I usually see the Red-Shouldered Hawks near the Adelbert cut-through to the Red Car Property.  They are more wary of people than the Red Tails.  Thus, I rarely get a good photo of one.   Saturday, I managed to get a few dozen photos as I followed it from tree to tree with my leashed dog in tow.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 3, 2012, 11:09 AM.  Above the historic viaduct footings, its camouflage gives it an advantage in wooded areas.

 

The hawk would call a few times, then fly between the trees, land on a branch, looking around at not only the ground, but also the sky as if it were looking for another hawk.  According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this appears to be an adult.  (California Red-Shouldered Hawks are more red than the eastern hawks.) 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 3, 2012, 11:09 AM.  In case there was any doubt about those red shoulders. 

 

They are smaller than Red Tails and larger than Cooper's Hawks.

 

Click here for all our Red Shouldered Hawk posts.

 

Learn more about Red-Shouldered Hawks: Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

 



Red Car Property: Mystery Hawk Near Adelbert

Photo: Diane Edwardson, December 23, 2011.  Definitely not a Red Tailed Hawk (its tail had vertical stripes); kind of large to be a Cooper's Hawk; it might be a Red Shouldered Hawk.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, December 23, 2011.  It had red shoulders and back, but its head looks a lot like a Red Shouldered Hawk documented in 2008.

2011 was a banner year for hawk watching in the neighborhood.  Click here for all our hawk posts.

Red Car Property: Hawkwatch, They're Everywhere Today

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 2011, 9:24 AM.  I caught sight of a mid-sized, grayish colored hawk, that was definitely not a Red Tail, calling for breakfast near the Adelbert All-Weather Lounge on the Red Car Property.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

In the past, I've seen Red Shouldered Hawks in the area between the Adelbert All-Weather Lounge and the Historic Viaduct Footings.   

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 9:25 AM.  The hawk was not as large as a Red Tail, but had a larger head than a Cooper's Hawk, with a fairly short tail.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The hawk looked just like the one that was flying under the stream of water from my neighbor's garden hose, a couple weeks ago.  I'm leaning toward Red Shouldered Hawk on this ID. 

Learn more about Red Shouldered Hawks on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website.

This morning, I observed at least 3 species of hawks on the Red Car Property.  All seemed to be juvenile hawks calling to be fed.  Their constant companions; Mockingbirds.  Check back over the next few days for the other hawk species.

Send us your hawk photos from the Red Car Property neighborhood: redcarproperty@gmail.com. 

Red Car Property: Elusive Hawks

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 28, 2009. Hawk on Red Car Property near Adelbert.

There have been many reports of hawks in the neighborhood this summer, and not just the usual Red Tail Hawk sightings. Neighbors have been frustrated in their efforts to get good photos of this year's hawks. (Thus, the poor quality photos we're posting here will have to suffice for now.)

On several occasions a young Red Shouldered Hawk has been seen circling above the Viaduct Footings and flying between the trees on the Adelbert end of the Red Car Property. If you have home on Lake View above Adelbert, there may be a nest in the trees up there.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 30, 2009. Small hawk on Red Car Property at Rose Scharlin Preschool.

Since the end of May, several neighbors reported seeing a hawk slowly flying as low as 6 feet above the ground between India and Red Car Canyon, just south of Rose Scharlin Preschool. Unfortunately, the above photo is the only one we've gotten so far.

It looks like a gigantic Kestrel. Yet it's still a smaller hawk with golden feathers on it's chest; blue gray feathers on its back; large vertical black stripes on its tail and very long legs. It may be a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp Shinned Hawk. Both are bird-eating raptors who like wooded areas. According to a neighbor who is also a LA Zookeeper, Cooper's Hawks are known to hang out in the canyon area. There are lots of Mourning Doves (prey) in Red Car Canyon.

Two neighbors report seeing the hawk literally fly past their heads (in several different incidents) at the top of the Corralitas Public Staircase. It's also been seen flying between the trees in the canyon area between Silver Ridge and Corralitas. The mockingbirds often chase it between the trees.

On August 3rd, a Riverside Place neighbor wrote, "I keep seeing your bird (I think) it's a smaller sized bird of prey. Very pretty, it's very elusive though. I run in for the camera and it's gone. Saturday I saw it take a dove and was sitting on a power line with it only about 20' away in full view!"

UPDATE: Will Campbell has a fantastic photo of a Cooper's Hawk, with prey, on his blog from just a few weeks ago shot in his Silver Lake neighborhood south of Sunset.

If you have neighborhood hawk or wildlife photos, send them to us: redcarproperty@gmail.com. Do not attempt to feed or touch wildlife.

Juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk on Corralitas

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 6, 2008. Hawk at 2562 Corralitas Drive. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Yesterday, I watched mockingbirds, sparrows and little brown birds with black pointy heads harassing a young hawk. The construction site below has been silent for months. The hawk was comfortable just hanging out on the telephone pole, while the little birds took turns screaming at him.

UPDATE: October 8, 2008. A source at the Audubon Society thinks it might be a juvenile red-shouldered hawk. I thought it looked different from the young red-tailed hawks in the neighborhood.

Check out the Audubon Center in nearby Debs Park.
Consider donating to the Ojai Raptor Center, which took in two injured red tailed hawks from Corralitas Drive.