The beauty was all around me. It had snowed the day before, making my drive into Glastonbury an especially scenic one. I was heading west on what is known as Route 2 but what I call Hawk Highway.

An inspiring sunrise gilded a few of the hills before me, some glistened golden, while others were subdued in a cool shadowy umber hue. Just past the overpass after the sign for the Marlboro town line exit, a cluster of oaks stand tall along an embankment, and it is there where I usually see a few hawks. That day was different - there weren't any perched on the oak limbs. I moved into the passing lane and sped along.

A few minutes later, out in front of me, a hawk laboriously flapped above, up over the view, and across the highway. It landed on an evergreen burdened with snow. Upon landing, some snow fell, sprayed like fine powder in the gentle morning breeze and then avalanched, releasing the tree of its entire snow cover. The hawk, relying on stealth, knew its prey had taken cover and flew on to another perch.

It was a red-tailed hawk; most of the hawks along highways are. They prefer semi-open country, where they hunt by perching and then striking fast. Red-tailed hawks prey primarily on small rodents, and one would think they might favor agricultural fields instead of highways. After all, the highway habitat isn't really all that rich - it's not like there is corn for rodents to feed on. In fact, it has been referred to as "junk" habitat.

New research suggests otherwise though. It turns out there is actually a rodent population living within the meridian divider between opposite lanes. I am convinced it is because the traffic discourages four-legged predators from getting to the rodents, but the research is inconclusive. I do know that it is easier for a hawk to spot prey in short grass than in high growing hay fields.

Since most of the hawks along Hawk Highway are red-tailed, cruising this route is a great way for beginners to get acquainted with these magnificent birds of prey. Most red-tailed hawks - and there is great variation - are brown above and pale underneath, with the classic red tail not visible from below. The large, broad wings and short, wide tail confirm this bird's identity in conjunction with the aforementioned descriptions.

Connecticut's red-tailed hawks stay through the winter with a few migrating locally. Those breeding in Canada winter over in the United States. Although they will depart from really deep snow, it never ceases to amaze me how the hawks find prey even with moderate snow cover. It simply attests to this bird's versatility.

Eisenhower's highway system seems to have given this species of hawk a great advantage, further proving the bird's ability to adjust to man's activities. Countless miles of short grass, bordered by an acre of trees, with light posts for perching, make our highway system a gift to the once persecuted red-tailed hawk. Sometimes man's destructive endeavors can benefit a species.

On my return from Glastonbury a few hours later, with the sun higher, there were more hawks; all were perching except one - it soared with great finesse, hovered motionless, then ascended effortlessly into the blue ether. I counted 10 hawks that morning.

Robert Tougias is a Colchester birding author. He is available for color presentations and will take your questions at rtougias@snet.net.