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Hawk news can typically be found in a variety of places, including newspapers, magazines, and online news outlets. Hawk news often covers topics such as new research on hawk species, conservation efforts, and stories of people connecting with hawks in their local environment. Hawk articles may also discuss topics such as falconry, the importance of biodiversity, and the effects of climate change on hawk populations. Videos featuring hawks can be found on a variety of online platforms, such as YouTube, and may feature footage of hawks in their natural habitat or of people interacting with hawks.
On My Way to 300 - 10,000 Birds
Another week, another week without birding. We spoke this weekend at a church in Toluca, three hours away, and I got back too tired to hit the hills early Monday morning. Fortunately, I have other 10,000 Birds writers from whom to steal ideas. David Tomlinson wrote this week about how many and which species he has seen so far this year, and I can do the same. Especially since, to my surprise, it turns out that I am somehow picking up species faster this year, here in Michoacán, than in any other year. This surprises me, because I have spent a fair number of days outside of the state (both in Mexico’s state of Tabasco, and in California). I have also had an unusual number of weeks when, like this one, I have not gone birding. And finally, there are the circumstances of last winter’s severe drought, which kept me from seeing old friends like the Semipalmated and Snowy Plovers. And yet, to date, I am four species beyond my previous total for mid-July, or eleven species above my five-year average. How can that be in such challenging circumstances? I believe the answer comes down to one word: biologists. Now, I have met quite a few biologists over the past few years who lacked field experience, or weren’t really interested in birding. A few even are careless with their IDs. But “my” biologists, the scientist friends who go birding with me, have my full confidence and respect, as well as my friendship. They are great folk. And they have great eyes and ears! I have quite a list of birds I have seen, or at least heard, because this is my year of group birding. My second Buff-collared Nightjar, seen by Jonathan lying perfectly still on a perfectly matched bit of ground. The same month, he also ID’d my first Bumblebee Hummingbird for 2024. The same month, Jorge called me excitedly after our church service, for me to run and see my first Zone-tailed Hawk in the highlands. In March, it was the American and Chilean Flamingo pair that Jorge saw in the distance, and the Virginia Rail that everyone managed to see before me. Jonathan found Gull-billled Terns in June, and Jonathan and Nacho located Mangrove Cuckoos by their calls just last week. On those rare occasions when I birded alone this year, I occasionally managed to see something unusual all by myself. Unfortunately, I never managed to share my multiple Aztec Thrush sightings. A difficult American Bittern also turned up when I was alone. Most years I see around 290 species in the state of Michoacán, although I can see more if I travel four hours to the coast. This year I hope to easily surpass 300 species, just here in the highlands… with help from biologists.
Cooling off on the coast - 10,000 Birds
Last week I wrote about the hot and dry conditions that now affect much of the Iberian Peninsula. My own solution when it comes to birding at this time of the year is to concentrate on the coast. At Gibraltar, where I live, I spend many hours at its southernmost tip, Europa Point. If the winds are blowing from the west, the afternoons can be spectacular. As the land heats up, a fresh south-westerly sea breeze sets in. Many birds heading towards the Atlantic, whether migrating or performing feeding movements, are pushed inshore. Sea-watching has always been exciting for me because there is always the chance of something unexpected turning up. It is a bonus but simply standing on top of a cliff feeling the cool sea breeze on your face is sufficient reward. Adult Audouin’s Gulls now passing show heavily abraded plumage after breeding I covered the main species in my 23rd June article “When the sea becomes a desert”. Certainly, the migration of Audouin’s Gulls (Ichthyaetus audouinii) out of the Mediterranean is now gathering pace and it is a great time to observe these birds in their array of plumages, according to age. Europa Point, Gibraltar, has to be the best place to observe and photograph these gulls at close quarters. Juvenile Audouin’s Gull First summer Audouin’s Gull Second summer Audouin’s Gull Third summer Audouin’s Gull Audouin’s Gulls travel in flocks Audouin’s Gulls resting on the sandy beaches of the Strait of Gibraltar Another gull that has become regular and whose numbers have increased in recent years, is the Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus). These also show up, often in family groups, from the east and steadily approach the point before turning south-west towards the Atlantic. Mediterranean Gulls migrate past Europa Point in mixed age flocks Adult Mediterranean Gulls passing Europa Point. Note these birds still retain the black hoods but flight and tail feathers are heavily abraded. Those passing later in the summer are losing the black hoods Mediterranean Gulls gathering in calm waters close to the Strait of Gibraltar Less frequent, but also showing is the Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei). If I really want to see these elegant gulls, then I can always drive up to the Atlantic coast and the estuary of the Guadalquivir River where they breed. Slender-billed Gulls passing Europa Point, Gibraltar Slender-billed Gulls breed in the Guadalquivir Estuary Not all birds showing up now are gulls. Two waders pass through in reasonable numbers. These are Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) and Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus), birds coming from the High Arctic in the latter case or from more southerly latitudes in the case of the former. Both are heading for rich wintering grounds off the West African coast. Oystercatchers passing Europa Point, Gibraltar Oystercatchers and Whimbrel on the move at Europa Point, Gibraltar Whimbrel rests and feeds at low tide on the rocky shore below Europa Point Last week I wrote about the Black Kites (Milvus migrans) that are now heading south. With fresh south-westerlies good numbers of these kites are drifted out to sea, east of the Rock. They then make an exhausting flight back in a north-westerly direction to find land. Many evenings I’m watching seabirds and flocks of kites arrive from the south-east and fly north back towards the hinterland. These lucky ones have lived to fight another day, perhaps when conditions improve. I’m sure that many others are not so lucky and drown away from sight of land. Black Kite passage now gathering pace I always go out in the hope of seeing another very special bird that shows up at this time. This is Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae). These are scarce but they do show up consistently in July and early August. They are birds that venture inland in search of concentrations of insects which they feed on prior to moving to their island colonies to breed. Others are non-breeding individuals wandering in search of food. The birds that I see, almost invariably, come in from the south, very probably the Moroccan coast just 21 kilometres away. Eleonora’s Falcon is always a possibility at Europa Point in the summer Sea-watching from the coast is great fun right now and it keeps me cool. Next week I’ll take a step further. In recent years pelagic trips have become increasingly popular and they offer a different window, one of seabirds that have always been out there at this time but that we have never been able to see from the coast. Adult Audouin’s Gull head-on
Growing up and Leaving the Nest - 10,000 Birds
Standing on the edge of the catwalk, the young hawk lifted its wings and leaned into the wind. Then, it turned around and ran back to the nest. The youngster was finding it hard to leave home. My last article was about the early days of the Red-tailed Hawk nest, which I was watching from our 18th-floor condo. As May turned into June, the activity and antics in the nest continued to entrance me. There was sibling rivalry, with one youngster pecking the other, when it tried to grab a bite of food first. There were tender moments. The female continued to be a devoted mother, brooding the youngsters, even when they didn’t want it. One time, I watched her shove the youngsters down in the nest and then lay over them. Another evening, when they were much larger, she preened one of the youngsters and then snuggled up next to both of them. I rarely saw the male drop off food, but the young were always eating. Black squirrel seemed to be a favoured, prey item. At four weeks of age, I saw the young feeding themselves. It was not for the weak of stomach to watch and sometimes I had to turn away. The youngsters grew quickly. If they weren’t eating or snoozing in the nest, they were preening. Very quickly, they began to resemble their parents, but still with white, fuzzy heads. At five weeks, they were exploring the catwalk. There was much wing flapping, with small hops, which lifted them a little above the nest. As they got bigger and stronger, there was even more action in the nest. Using my scope and her cell phone, our daughter captured them flapping and jumping over each other, in a game of hawk leap frog. By week six, the youngsters looked exactly like their parents. On June 5, I thought one of the youngsters had fledged, because I only saw one youngster in the nest.I saw two hawks perched on the catwalk railing, which was what the parents often did. I realized one was a youngster, when it jumped back down into the nest. On the afternoon of June 6, I checked on the nest. There was definitely only one youngster there. I had missed the fledging of the first one. I checked nearby rooftops, but couldn’t see or hear that youngster. I watched the remaining one throughout the rest of the afternoon and early evening. It was restless and kept wandering around the catwalk. It was flapping and jumping around. The parents fed it around 6:30pm. When I checked on it at 8:20 pm, it was standing on the edge, wings extended. Then, it ran back to the nest. I figured it wouldn’t fledge so close to evening and left the scope for a few minutes. When I returned, it was gone, too. At 8:50 pm, both parents were perched on the railings, which was puzzling. I thought they’d be with their fledlings. After that, I had seen the parents, flying around or perched on the catwalk. On June 11, I found the fledglings. I walked around the base of the chimney. They were on the rooftop of a lower level of the hospital. They must have coasted down there. They were eating, so the parents were feeding them. Their flying skills were still weak. I was glad they succeeded in their first challenge of leaving the nest. After that, I lost track of the youngsters. I only saw the two adults, hunting or perched on the catwalk railing. I just have to hope that the youngsters moved into the nearby ravine and started the next stage of their life. Watching a nest is bittersweet, because you never know the end of the story, for the youngsters who captured your heart. Addendum: My time with the Red-tailed Hawk family didn’t end with fledging. On July 6, I was walking in a nearby ravine. I heard the begging call of a hawk. I believe I found one of the youngsters. It was flying from tree to tree. When I looked up at it through my bins, it looked down on me. The bird turned and twisted its head in every possible way as it studied me. That was amusing to see. On July 20, a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk flew by our condo. It was soaring beautifully. It gave a few, half-hearted, begging calls, but I think it knew it was on its own now. It’s good to know that at least one of them has made it to the next, independent stage. Cover photo taken from Pexels. Other photos by Leslie Kinrys.
Hawk Grabs, Drags And Chokes Tiny Dog. Owner 'Intervenes' But Bird Is Too Strong
The morning started off well for Cecilia Celis. She let her two Yorkies, Lulu, and Heidi, out to play in the backyard of her Las Vegas home. However, she failed to notice that a giant red-tailed hawk had been lurking nearby. The moment the dogs were let out, the hawk …