[mou] Red-Shouldered Hawk Big Willow Park, Minnetonka

[Pamela Marie Deerwood]

Happy Leap Day!
Today, February 29th, 2004, John Arthur and I were delighted to watch a 
mature red-shouldered hawk in Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, Hennepin 
County, MN.
We watched the hawk for about 45 minutes (~2:10 - 3 PM) while it hunted 
from the trees on the edge of the marsh areas of Minnehaha Creek  north 
of the railroad tracks, then flew south of the railroad tracks to perch 
in trees along the more open waters of Minnehaha Creek.  We were amazed 
as we observed the bird fly to the edge of the creek (a short distance 
upstream from the canoe landing), where it caught a frog and ate it, as 
we continued to watch,  in a nearby tree.

Thank goodness for natural areas!

Pamela Deerwood
Hopkins, MN