Walter Kitundu and Patch, the Red-tailed Hawk

November 5, 2021

Listen to the BirdNote Daily about sculptor and musician Walter Kitundu's special relationship with Patch, the Red-tailed Hawk.

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, standing on sunlit grass, looking to the right

Sculptor and musician Walter Kitundu first became enraptured by birds in 2005 when a Red-tailed Hawk flew four feet above his head. He named the bird Patch, after the white patch on the back of her head, and kept returning to the park to see her. Patch became used to Walter, accepting him as part of the landscape. He documented her transition from juvenile to adult, learning her quirks and mannerisms. Browse the photos of Patch, below!

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, standing on cut grass near a sidewalk, Patch's wings are stretched out and up.

I started following this hawk all around the park. This one was particularly big and had a white patch on the back of its head.

It turned, looked at me and then jumped off the streetlight and flew straight toward my head. And in my mind, I'm thinking I've done something wrong. The bird is really mad.

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, flying over the landscape of a park, low to the ground, heading toward the photographer and to the right.

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, flying nearby cut grass and sidewalk, Patch's talons are out, as if about to catch prey.

The bird landed on the ground next to me, about three or four feet away. And it picked up a caterpillar and ate it, and then it didn't leave.

We sat there together on the ground for about a minute until somebody else walked by and it flew away. And that was such an exhilarating moment that probably for the next six to seven months I was at that park, three to four days a week, following this particular Red-tail.

The bird wasn't used to everybody, but for some reason it had accepted me as part of the landscape.

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, perched on a weathered cross, with outstretched wings, looking straight at the photographer.

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, flying away from the camera, toward a stop sign.

I realized I had a really privileged relationship with a wild Red-tailed Hawk. And I think, knowing that it was so special, I kept going back, and I was able to document its transition from a juvenile bird into an adult.

If I'm ever really nervous, maybe I'm going to a performance or I have to go give a talk. And on the way there I look out and I see a Red-tail perched on the edge of a building or on a power pole or something, I just settled down a little bit…

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, flying in front of a blue car.

Patch, a Red-tailed Hawk, flying above the photographer, against a background of blue skies

…I kind of realize part of the world is as it should be and things are going to be okay. So there is a kind of comfort that I receive whenever I see a Red-tailed Hawk.

All photos and quotes are by Walter Kitundu.