Visitors to Sedgwick are likely to see a magnificent Red-tailed hawk. They are the most common hawk in North America and year-round residents of Santa Ynez Valley's oak woodlands, grasslands and agricultural areas.

Red-tailed hawks typically build their nests in the crowns of tall trees where they have a commanding view of the landscape. Both members of a pair build the nest, or refurbish one of the nests they've used in previous years. Nests are tall piles of dry sticks up to six feet tall and three feet across. There are a number of known red-tailed hawk nests at Sedwick, including one in an oak restoration site a mile up Lisque Road that has been active since 2009. In spring, females will lay and incubate up to 5 eggs for 28-35 days. Look for young Red-tail hawk fledglings learning to fly and hunt throughout Sedgwick's summer months.

Mammals make up the bulk of most Red-tailed hawk meals. Frequent victims include voles, mice, wood rats, rabbits and ground squirrels. The hawks also eat birds (quail, starlings and blackbirds) as well as bats, snakes and carrion. They are often photographed at Sedgwick watering sources taking baths, drinking and waiting for hapless prey to come in for a drink of water.