This image shows Baker’s Field late last month at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. It also shows several hawks, but they aren’t so easy to see.
Baker’s Field At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
On our last few trips to the refuge, my friend Steve Creek and I have seen large numbers of hawks at the Baker’s Field area. Some were flying, some were hunting, and some were perched in the trees that border the field.
In fact, there were quite a few Red-tailed Hawks scanning the fields for prey from these trees. I’d say that, even at web-sized resolution, at least one of the Red-tailed Hawks can be seen easily. But there are at least four more hawks in the trees.
I know, they are hard to see even in the original full sized high resolution they are hard to see.
A few of the Red-tailed Hawks at Baker’s Field
I added an inset that I copied from the original image to show where four more hawks are located in the image above. But you know what? There might be more.
Even with keen eyesight and solid locating skills, I’m pretty sure I could have missed some of the hawks perching in the trees overlooking Barker’s Field.
Will all the hawks be there when I get back to the refuge? I don’t know.
What were the hawks after? I’m guessing rodents that have been eating corn in the field.
To attract that many hawks, there are probably lots of rodents around that field.
Maybe the hawks will be there when we head back to the refuge; maybe they won’t. I can say they have been interesting to observe and that I’d love to photograph them if they’d just fly in a little closer!
Life is good.
Mia
To see more of my journeys to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, click here.
You do have incredible eyesight. That you even saw the first RTH, is amazing to me. But without your inset highlighting the other 4 hawks, I would never known they were there. Thanks Mia.
Do you think they might be migrants from nearby who hunt during winter months in the refuge?
April, I suppose that some of these Red-tailed Hawks might be short or even long distance migrants. I know from personal experience that the refuge is home to a large number of both Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks though, so it is hard to know for certain.