Red-Shouldered Hawk with Marsh Mouse Lunch
That $30M earmark in the Stimulus Package wouldn’t have saved this unfortunate marsh mouse. The mouse lived 2700 miles east of San Francisco and the red-shouldered hawk wouldn’t have cared whether it was protected by the feds or not; which it wasn’t. The hawk was simply hungry and the mouse bolted from its marsh hideaway at the precise wrong time. End of story … for the mouse.
 
Hawk Strips Mouse Like Beef Jerky
We visited Onset Beach on Saturday to investigate reports we received at last week’s Turtles Gone Wild presentation at the Wareham Free Library. (See “Turtles Gone Wild†S.R.O. Hit at Wareham Free Library). We checked out the beach area where diamondback terrapin nesting was spotted last summer and continued our walk through scenic Onset village to enjoy the sunny afternoon. As we walked along the high bank overlooking the harbor, we spotted a red-shouldered hawk swoop down into the marsh edge and return with talons firmly gripping a mouse.
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Requiem for a Marsh Mouse
The hawk settled on a pine tree branch about 8 feet off the ground. Clearly, this raptor’s hunger out-voted its fear because it allowed us to approach within 10 feet to document its feast. Cleanly, efficiently, yet unhurriedly, the hawk devoured its prey with no regard for our presence.
Hawk Finishes Lunch Break
Swallowing the last morsel, the hawk leisurely lifted its wings, caught the breeze and sailed into the bright blue sky to survey the marsh menu for dessert.