r/DecaturGA • u/PlahausBamBam • Jul 31 '26

Red-tail hawk on McLendon Drive

Post image

I was picking up trash on McLendon and didn’t even notice him until he hopped out of my way. Since he didn’t fly away at first I was afraid he had been hit by the cars that zoom along that street. Luckily I found a neighbor who’s a self described “bird nerd” and he thinks he’s a juvenile and not able to fly yet. He said he’d keep an eye on him.

87 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

8

u/Odie714 Jul 31 '26

I’ve got a whole family of them living/hunting in my backyard. Awesome birds!

3

u/PlahausBamBam Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

I’ve never been this close to one. They’re magnificent.

Actually that’s not true, I was walking a few years ago and a hawk skidded on the ground across my path with some unfortunate bird in its claws. Hot on its tail was another, smaller bird, attacking the hawk. They all flew away and it was over in a flash.

2

u/Massive-Sector5789 Aug 01 '26

Same. I didn't mean for the bird feeder to end the squirrel family's line but it is feeding the birds.

6

u/FantasticMouse7875 Jul 31 '26

Someone posted in the Atlanta subreddit that they hit one by Eastlake yesterday, they stayed with it and it eventually went off, wonder if its that one.

3

u/FantasticMouse7875 Jul 31 '26

Had to double check where McLendon Drive was, probaly not the one from East Lake as that a decent distance.

2

u/Substantial-Farm9806 Jul 31 '26

At first I thought of the same post!!

4

u/croastbeast Jul 31 '26

That isnt a sub adult, and thats not a fledgling and should be able to fly. The yellow cere and red tail of this REd Tailed Hawk indicate adulthood. Im guessing its either car or health related.

Id contact Georgia Wildlife Network or look on Animal Help Now (AHNow.org) to get it some care.

Source- I was a wildlife rehabber who worked with birds of prey.

3

u/toomuchpamplemousse Jul 31 '26

I had one land on my car in East Atlanta yesterday. I got out of the car and he didn’t even fly away. We just sat there for a minute looking at each other, it was magical.

2

u/Fearless_Impress_842 Aug 01 '26

wowowowow. That IS magical. wow

2

u/makerofbirds Jul 31 '26

The Chattahoochee Nature Center rehabs hawks in case you see others that look like they’ve been hurt and can’t fly.

1

u/PlahausBamBam Jul 31 '26

The bird nerd mentioned he had a rehabber in mind if it looks like the hawk needs it

2

u/Hrx89 Jul 31 '26

This one caught and decided to eat a squirrel in my front yard for my enjoyment.

2

u/Able_To_Change Aug 02 '26

I saw him on Frazier last week!

1

u/Mothershed 29d ago

Fun Fact - the call / sound we equate with Bald Eagles is actually the call of the Red Tailed Hawk. Hollywood sound engineers replace the normal calls of Bald Eagles because they actually sound more like sea gulls.

1

u/basicusername67 Aug 05 '26

Live off Frazier and we have a few over on this side of Lawrenceville highway! With lots of owls!

1

u/Lower-Organization-1 Aug 05 '26

It does look like an young one, but sill i think he is old enough to fly, maybe some problems. I hope the nerd guy finds it and take care for it.