When young hawks are learning to hunt, they find a low perch to sit on and swoop down on the prey. They are not good enough yet to attack from the sky. It takes a lot of practice to be able to catch a bird or a bat that is flying fast. There are easier ways to get a meal. For example, red-tailed hawks are attracted to forest fires.
Small animals run from the fire, and the hawks swoop down to catch a quick dinner.
Red-tailed hawks mate for life. During the year, they do not stay in the same tree with each other, but they do share a territory and defend it against other raptors. They start building a nest or fixing up an old one in January or February. The nests are 2 - 3 feet across, made of twigs, bark, and green pine needles. Nests are usually in the tallest tree.