OHIO-BIRDS Archives

January 2008

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Subject:
From:
Al La Sala <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Al La Sala <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:34:45 -0500
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I've noticed a lot more raptors too.  It seems like everywhere I turn I see
bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and northern harriers along County Line Road,
at Hoover, and all over southern Delaware County.
Kestrels and rough legged hawks also seem to abound right now.
Al La Sala
Columbus, OH

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of rob
thorn
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] TheCruelSeason

We call these deep dark days of winter the cruel season because of all the
death they imply.  But for some animals they are the best of times.  It's
that time of year when birds of prey become very noticeable, a point brought
home to me when I passed 3 Red-tailed Hawks literally perched along the
shoulder of I-270 here in Columbus.  Everywhere I've seen Red-tails,
Cooper's , and Kestrels, and I've rarely ventured out beyond the suburbs.
Reports from Kildeer Plains and other wildlife areas only serve to dramatize
this seasonal influx of raptors.

They're not just here out of desperation, either.  I've watched Red-tails
take birds & squirrels in the past 2 weeks.  Just yesterday I saw a Sharpie
catch a Song Sparrow and haul its shrieking prey into the woods.  These
birds are here by design: for them, the cold part of winter gives them an
edge.  The cold slows their prey, and the food scarcity makes the prey
animals desperate.  A sluggish, desperate bird or mouse is much easier to
catch.  These mostly seem to be adult raptors who have figured out this
strategy, and it's a wonder to observe them patiently waiting or
purposefully cruising, watching for their debilitated targets to make a
misstep.  So the season is cruel to some, but a blessing to others.

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______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
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