(From Richard Dery) I don't know about the rest of the world, but here in Northwestern CT, Red-tailed Hawks have made a real comeback in the past 9 or 10 years. I see them quite often now. Which inspired my latest card model.

This paper model is one of many in the growing body of the models of Richard Dery, some of the best card models in the industry. For instance, you could go check out his Dragon or his Knights which have captured the interest and imagination of many new cardmodelers, as well as those who have been around for a while.

Below is a work of art, also created by Richard Dery. He did this in 2010 and has allowed us to include it in your folder along with the paper model so people may print it out and hang on their walls.

On a long car ride, anywhere, you may see a red-tailed hawk soaring high above the road. He'll turn slowly in a wide circle, gathering height from the rising hot air (called a thermal) to conserve the energy it takes to flap his wings. He may continue to climb for 1000 feet or more, or he may land on a telephone pole or a tree limb to rest or search around for a rabbit or a squirrel.

The Red-tailed Hawk is found throughout North America. It is one of three Hawks that are known as "Chickenhawks". There are fourteen recognized subspecies. The Hawk can grow to weigh between 1.5 and 3.5 pounds with a wingspan of between 43 to 57 in. The Red-tailed hawk lives in a wide range of habitats, including: Deserts, Grasslands, North American Forests, Tropical forests, and even your neighborhood park.

Hawks in Falconry

Because the hawk is so common they are often used for falconry. The majority of hawks used in falconry are the Red-tailed variety. Here is a video explaining more about the Red-tailed hawk.

And here is another one of Nathan, a young falconer who is training his hawk to hunt and to keep down the population of crows. It's very interesting how he describes the communication between the crows when they discover they have a new hawk in the neighborhood!