Hawkwatch: Week 2

Adult Bald eagle

We begin our second week up on Bear Mountain in the hopes of finding some new migrating species of raptors. There was plenty of action today, but most were the resident birds who have been here all summer and are not quite ready to depart from the Highlands at this point. One of the great success stories in the history of avian recovery is the American Bald eagle. Back in the early 1970’s, there was only one known pair of Bald eagles in New York State. Today, there are 452 identified breeding pairs in our state. Most of our readers probably know the story of how the pesticide DDT was responsible for the near extirpation of many raptor species including the eagles, ospreys, many hawk species and songbirds. Only through the ban on this pesticide and the conscious effort to restore viable numbers of the affected birds back into New York and many other concerned states in the nation were the populations of these birds able to return to stable numbers. Today, within 10 miles of my home in the lower Hudson Valley there are at least 4 active nest sites. For this reason, we have to be careful when counting migrating eagles to be sure that we are indeed counting only those which have come down from the north and are continuing though the valley to points south. If we find eagles soaring above (like the one seen today in the image above) which are hanging around our area and do not disappear over the southern horizon, we cannot count them as migrating. Nonetheless, they are a joy to see and photograph….it just never gets old.

Red-tailed hawk

Another species seen and photographed today was the Red-tailed hawk. Like the Bald eagles, these birds were in dire straits in the 70s due to the overuse of pesticides like DDT. But like the eagle, these birds have made a great comeback and are a common sight all over New York State. If you see a hawk perched in the trees along side any road in the state, there is a very good chance it is a Red-tail. We have had a few of these migrating through already at the Hawkwatch, but this young bird (notice the striped tail - not solid red like the tail of an adult) was seen throughout the day soaring overhead and never did head south. Eventually, he will join the masses of hawks, eagles, falcons, and songbirds that depart from the Hudson Valley and head to warmer climes where their food supply will be more abundant and easier to secure.

Common raven

One of the most enjoyable birds to see at the Bear Mountain Hawkwatch is the Common raven. Common ravens are large, adaptable birds known for their black plumage, strong beaks, and remarkable intelligence. (See the references below to learn more about how incredibly intelligent these birds are). They are known as “Common” ravens because they inhabit a wide range of environments across the Northern Hemisphere, from deserts to forests and mountainous regions. Ravens are opportunistic feeders, consuming everything from carrion and insects to small animals and plant matter. Their complex vocalizations and problem-solving abilities make them subjects of numerous studies on animal cognition . Ravens are one of the most social species in the animal kingdom and often are seen in apparent “play mode” as they fly overhead. Just look at the group of ravens I photographed today and check out the left-most bird playfully challenging is flight-mates.

An “Unkindness” of Ravens

To learn more about these amazing birds, look into reading some of the works of Bernd Heinrich. I strongly recommend “The Mind of the Raven” in which he describes their problem solving abilities, social behaviors and Man-raven interactions . Also, click on the button below to see a YouTube video about these “Masters of the Air”. We look forward to seeing more ravens at play in the upcoming months on the mountain.