08/29/2026
*epic raptor screech*
Happy Raptor Month! This October, we will be celebrating the dozens of birds of prey species found in the US. Raptors are vital balance-keepers of our ecosystems and the clean-up crew of the skies.
At the Great Swamp, one of our many raptor visitors is the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). That common raspy raptor sound effect you hear in movies is actually a red-tailed hawk's screech and is often overlaid on bald eagle footage (which sounds a lot like bird plagiarism). In addition to being phenomenal voice actors, these hawks mate for life. They hunt rodents, birds, and other small animals on their own or with their partners as a team. Red-tailed hawks have been known to live for up to thirty years in the wild and are the most widespread raptor in the US.
Image 1: A red-tailed hawk at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center.
Image 2: Our summer campers pay their respects to a bald eagle at The Raptor Trust during a field trip, despite the plagiarism allegations.
