Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo Jamaicensis
On November 29th, 2010 I was in Valley of Fire and photographed the following wildlife:
Curious Facts from Desert USA
Hawks are carnivores (meat eaters) who belong to the category of birds known as raptors.
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common member of the buzzard hawk family.
The eyesight of a hawk is 8 times as powerful as a human's.
Like all hawks, the Red-tailed Hawk's talons are its main weapons.
The Red-tailed Hawk has a hoarse and rasping 2 to 3 second scream that is most commonly heard while soaring.
85 to 90 % of the Red-tailed Hawk's diet is composed of small rodents.
The White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
(Ammospermophilus leucurus)
These photographs were taken at the White Domes picnic area in Valley of Fire State Park.
Some fun facts about the White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel
- The White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel of the Southwest is one of the smallest ground squirrels on the planet.
- These squirrels practice what is known as "heat dumping". When their body temperature reaches its upper limits they will get into a cool shady spot and lay down spread-eagle with their belly pressed against the cool ground. This releases the heat from its body to help cool the animal down.
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