11 Red Tailed Hawks

Red Tailed Hawks are very common and everywhere, but in the last days of August when I went to walk Mozu I saw 11 hawks circling above. I have never seen so many hawks circle together! So I watched and counted, and counted again. Then they started flying away until only 2 were left, and they soared higher and higher until I could not see them anymore. It just felt awesome, good and lucky. I pondered - what is the message?

Since there are large empty lots in the area, there are plenty of them around here and I see them all the time. Usually one sometimes two. The crows in the area chase them quite a bit and once I had the opportunity to have one fly very close above me and the bird was so close I saw he glanced at me. A beauty! :)


This morning when I walked Mozu (I always walk Mozu first) he suddenly stopped on the large grassy area staring. As I looked there was a Red Tailed Hawk eating his catch in the corner. It is huge and an incredible sight. So I told Mozu to hold still and started to pull my phone out of my back pocket to take a picture. Then the fool of a dog starts charging and burns my hand with the leash and I let go. I was pissed that I missed my chance, but watched. The bird saw Mozu coming and first thought he can just spread his wings to intimidate, but decided he is going to take his catch elsewhere, and took flight. Wow, what a wingspan! Probably as wide as my dog is long. He flew very low to the next patch of grass, and Mozu followed. It almost looked like the bird was going to try that patch of grass, but then actually flew off.
In hindsight, I am glad he flew in that direction with Mozu in tow, since in the other direction there would have been traffic.


photo from
http://www.naturefocused.com/photography/red-tailed-hawk/red-tailed-hawk_2_3130.html

...and so I started thinking about the 11 hawks.

and I think the spirit of red-tail hawk is trying to get your attention as it most likely is your Totem.
Your totem will show itself to you in four ways..(for example: up close, left side, backside, standing, sitting, walking, dancing, flying, maybe just a close up of a body part like an eye,... etc) .and also it will do something out of the ordinary to show you it is of Spirit.
If you are very blessed..it will give you a powersong.

I also feel the hawk is one of my totem animals - sometimes just watching them fly makes me actually feel as if I am up in the air..

The hawk is my primary totem. I often hear one cry out just as I'm pondering something, providing a much-needed answer or confirmation. :)

I've seen many in one day, and two mated pair in one setting, yet I've never seen 11 together as you describe. Simply imagining it makes me catch my breath....how amazing. What a blessing. :)

I have been researching whether there is any info of the number of hawks that day...I have found none so far.

This is from a local story:

DENVER -- A Westminster man's photo of an unlikely hitchhiker on a hawk is getting worldwide attention this week, as newspapers as far away as China published it.

Pat Gaines took the photo at Bonny Lake State Park in August and posted it on the Colorado Birder social networking site. The photo shows a western kingbird riding on the back of a red-tailed hawk.

Gaines said the kingbird wasn't a friendly hitchhiker and that the kingbird might have felt the hawk was intruding on its space.

"I've never seen red-tail hawks harassed so much. The hawks I saw were constantly being chased by a variety of smaller birds," he said. "This kingbird perched between the wings on the hawk's back for several seconds, and pecked at its head as the hawk flew away screaming."


Full story here:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21161105/detail.html#

thanks for that. :)