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I thought it was animal religion fanatic Mary Tyler Moore. IIRC, she was trying to sell her place in the building, and the hawks were tossing the remains of rats, squirrels, pigeons, and whatever other unconsumed bits of rodents they were done with, out of the nest, on to the people, er, potential buyers, below.

Those Noo Yoahkahs would have a heart attack if they saw all the redtails we have here in Texas. There's a big one who lives and hunts right here in our neighborhood (sometimes in my backyard), and we live in the center of a major city which itself lies at the heart of a metropolitan area of over five million people. The redtail (buteo jamaicensis), while technically not a true hawk, is nonetheless a beautiful sight and a good neighbor (they keep the bunnies, squirrels, mice, and other critters from taking over) -- and they're everywhere. I myself have seen them stoop on prey at the side of the road -- often only feet from my truck -- on many occasions, and there's one that occasionally drops by to dine on the bobwhites and pigeons that inhabit the grassy lot adjacent to our family business office. Redtails are beautuful, inspiring, and fun to watch. I admit it -- I love seeing the stubby little things.

We have a lot of other raptors in our area as well. North Texas is teeming with eagles (various sorts), owls, and other birds of prey. I sometimes see golden eagles in the Trinity River bottoms near the aprtly-named Eagle Ford just west of Cedar Ridge in Dallas County. Here in Tarrant County, I most often see redtails and screech owls. But the fiercest bird in Texas is not a raptor -- it is the common mockingbird (Mimus polyglottis). Fearless in defense of nest and territory, yet capable of making the sweetest music, mockingbirds can frequently be seen dive-bombing hawks, eagles, and human beings who dare trespass upon their demesne -- a fitting symbol of Texas.