THE RED-TAILED HAWK 95 



The Red-tail usually builds during the early part of March, or re- 

 pairs a nest suitably located. The structure is bulky, made of sticks 

 and twigs of varying size ; and has a lining of softer material corn 

 husks, leaves and shredded bark being used ; or the strippings from 

 corn-stalks, as has been noted by Professor Keyes. The same nest 

 will be used again and again by a pair of Hawks, often with very 

 little repair. 



Oak and cottonwood trees either in timbered uplands or in river 

 bottoms, may be chosen, and the tree selected for nest building is 

 often at or near the edge of more densely wooded land. These birds 

 seem to count of more importance the size of the tree and the height 

 at which the nest may be placed, than they do the matter of conceal- 

 ment by surrounding timber. 



According to F. L. Burns, the period of incubation is twenty-eight 

 days, and both sexes incubate the eggs, which number from two to 

 four in a clutch. They range from a dirty white or bluish white 

 ground color unspotted, to quite heavily marked eggs with rich red- 

 dish brown spots having deeper shell tints of lilac, the heavier mark- 

 ings being placed usually toward the larger end of the egg. 



While it is true that the food of Red-tailed Hawks taken in states 

 contiguous to Iowa may be essentially similar to that of birds se- 

 cured within the state, it is, however, desirable to know more about 

 the food of those actually within our borders. 



Of the 562 stomachs of this hawk reported upon by Dr. A. K. 

 Fisher in "Hawks and Owls of the United States,"- only a single 

 stomach of all those examined came from an Iowa specimen. This 

 lone representative from the "Hawkeye state" was collected at Keo- 

 kuk, December 22, 1889, and was credited with having devoured 

 "mice." 



Doctor Fisher says, "It has been demonstrated by careful stomach 

 examination that poultry and game birds do not constitute more than 

 ten per cent of the food of this hawk, and that all the other beneficial 

 animals preyed upon, including snakes, will not increase this propor- 

 tion to fifteen per cent. Thus the balance in favor of the hawk is at 

 least 85 per cent, made up largely of injurious rodents a fact that 

 every thoughtful farmer should remember." 



There is no denying that this hawk does kill poultry, but it is made 

 clear by careful study of the food throughout the year that there is 

 no reason for the indiscriminate slaughter of every individual of this 

 species. 



