Weight Gain
Every fall, Carson's weight skyrockets along with her appetite. Though our Red-tailed Hawk doesn't need migration reserves stored away like some of her wild relatives, Carson still has the instinct to bulk up for winter. Carson eagerly awaits her next rat tidbit while standing on the scale. We bumped up Carson's daily food amount in September as she started acting more and more desperate for her meals. Her weight climbed steadily. She reached over 1,500g (3.3lbs) and I began decreasing her food gradually, trying to keep her within her healthy weight range. But it always amazes me how her weight continues to increase even with less food. How does her body do it?