Hi Dan,

I think they go for reptiles and amphibians more than other hawks.  I've seen them hunt toads at the Horse stables in RCP. I think it was last April or May when a ton of toads were breeding in the the corrals and a red-shouldered Hawk just perched in a nearby tree and would swoop down catch a toad and then return to it's perch to eat it.  After it was done, it dropped the remains and only skin was left.

Jason



________________________________
 From: Daniel Rauch <>
To:  
Sent: Monday, June 4, 2012 2:13 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Birds 2 - Reptiles 0
 
I let our staff herpetologist know that the birds were getting some payback for all nestlings and eggs swallowed up by her snakes this Spring. 

I have seen red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks all over DC, but this is the only area where i have seen them with snakes. A pair nests towards the southern tip of Kingman Island, so it is likely it is the same bird or pair. Some may be more adept at snake hunting than others.  The hawks are immediately mobbed by red-winged blackbirds and eastern kingbirds, so i did not have a chance to attempt an ID on the snake. 

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