Photos by Mark M. Hancock - Photojournalist for the Richardson News in Dallas
Cities and developments have covered or taken a lot of the land in our beautiful country. The wildlife have adapted to this city life, their new frontier, quite well. Mark M. Hancock captured some scenes from this new frontier in the parking lot of the City of Richardson.
This young red-tailed hawk pounces on as rock dove (pidgeon) on a lovely sunday afternoon in October, 1998. Red-tails are the ususally bigger birds that you'll see on the hilines and billboards watching the fields as you drive down the highway. Their typical method of feeding is using their excellent eyesight to locate rodents and then swooping down on them from the air. They also eat birds (obviously) and are sometimes hated by quail hunters.
Mark watched the hawk as it wounded the bird then backed off, watched a moment and pounced on it again. Perhaps it was practicing its grip. Soon the hawk's hunger took over and he flew to a neary rooftop to eat his Sunday brunch.
Photos copyright 1999 Mark M. Hancock
To see more of Mark M. Hancock's outstanding photos go to www.dallas.net/mhancock/