The other day, when we were at the new Guilford County Schools office building on Green Valley Road, we saw a majestic sight. A hawk appeared out of nowhere, wings outstretched, and dive-bombed a squirrel on the edge of the parking lot. Not that seeing a predator in action is fun, but it was educational, seeing the precision with which the hawk descended and hooked the squirrel with its talons. We also saw, firsthand, where the term “watching something like a hawk” comes from. As we stood there watching the hawk, it did not take its eyes off of us. We were between 20-30 feet away from it, but slowly starting walking closer to get a photo. He walked away from us with the squirrel stuck to its talons. As we got in our car to drive away, he resumed eating in peace. Hawks eat one or two meals a day, so, he just may have been ready for another squirrel later that afternoon.*
With a wingspan of up to 48″, the red-tailed hawk is the second largest species in North Carolina and its numbers have increased here since the 1960’s. Green Valley Road, between Westover Terrace and Benjamin Parkway seems like a good enclave. While the area is urban, there is not a lot of foot traffic. Having witnessed the attack and accuracy of this hawk, we think we may need to be a little more mindful of our little dog out in the back yard. Saturdays in Greensboro are so great for observing nature. We just may grab a cup of coffee and sit in the parking lot to see if he is still around…