Young Red Tail Hawk

Red tail hawks are common throughout most of the Appalachian Mountains, but winter is probably the best time to see these birds of prey. It may be because they have to cover more territory to find food and become less wary of humans in this effort-as their concentration is focused elsewhere. Or, it may be simply that they are less hidden by foliage. Either way, it seems that winter is the best time.

Often young hawks will allow you to get really close, or like this little guy, they may get really close to you. This young red tail flew from a branch across a cornfield to perch right above my head to investigate my activities. After providing me with a short portrait session, the hawk then flew to a nearby branch to watch fly-fishermen. I wonder if it thought it might somehow make a meal out of a fisherman's catch...

New Year, New Snow

We finally got a decent dose of snow here in the NC High Country! Just in time for the new year, too. I'm currently working on a project about protecting mountain waterways and the importance of riparian buffers. This image was made in Roaring Creek, deep in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, and shows a good example of a creek with a healthy riparian buffer.

More videos to come!