Gliding over the valley the hawk hunts for its food forever bound to the life giving substance of the land but a master of the sky. Seeking out the best hunting grounds hawks will migrate south during the fall and return to the north in the spring. Some of these birds of prey will travel from as far north as the Artic circle all the way to the southern hemisphere well beyond the equator. Continue reading
Broad-Winged Hawks pass through NJ on September 16th 2012 in big numbers. The map below shows a mark for each location where 1000+ hawks were counted. It is often hard to predict exactly when the migration will peak but it was last year on the 17th the bulk of the birds moved through. If the colder weather brings NW winds the birds will gather for their migration south. More birds are expected in the coming weeks.
View Sept BW’s 2012 in a larger map
The little papillon enjoys a quiet afternoon in the dog yard as his owner looks on in horror when a huge shadow crosses over the beloved pet. The large bird dropped slowly from the sky in a lazy circle. Continue reading
People who visit the hawkwatch will often ask why we count hawks. Immediately we pull out the official answer and explain that we count them to “support the study of raptor populations” and explain that a change in population for a given species could indicate a change in the health of the environment, but there are other reasons that should also be considered.
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The joy of being outdoors and enjoying nature helps us build an appreciation for the natural environment that we live in. The study of hawk populations help us monitor the health of the world we live in.
Earth Day has been a time when I would plant trees and volunteer to remove invasive plants from the local woods. There are many ways one can make a difference. What are you planning to do?
Take action and help spread the word to Reuse, Renew, Recycle.
Learn more about how you can help at www.earthday.org
The spring migration for the Red-tail hawk here in north eastern United States usually wraps up by the end of March. The Cornell University pair here are settled in on schedule with babies expected this week (April 13th). The next few weeks will bring more activity as the new chicks begin to emerge.
Buteo jamaicensis, the scientific name for this bird has adapted well to changes in habitat and is one of the most widely distributed hawks in North America. They are known to migrate from northern United States and Canada to the lower United Sates and Mexico.
