Symbol of the Sun: Raptors and Us

bald eagle

Last Saturday, the Nature Museum in Grafton hosted a presentation by Michael Clough from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum (SVNHM). Mike's talk was titled "Symbol of the Sun: Raptors and Us" and explored the relationship between humans and birds of prey that goes back thousands of years. 

red-tailed hawk

The program included an interactive slideshow about our history with raptors. He brought a bald eagle, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk and a saw-whet owl that SVNHM cares for, all are recovered from injuries but unable to be released back to the wild.

 A recent addition to SVNHM, this female bald eagle was hit by a car in Wyoming and will be used in the museum's educational programs. She's very impressive although only weighs 11 pounds.

northern saw-whet owl

Equally impressive is our smallest northeastern owl (this one with a permanent eye injury) who weighs between 3 and 5 ounces!

If you missed the presentation, go to the Herrick's Cove Wildlife Festival in Bellows Falls on Sunday May 5th from 10am to 4pm. Michael Clough will be there with raptors and other wildlife from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum in Marlboro, Vermont, located on Route 9. Or just go visit the museum!

Some Year-End Birding

red-tailed hawk

An impromptu trip to the Dead Creek area around Addison, Vermont yesterday resulted in some good sightings of hawks.

From the time we left our house, we saw red-tailed hawks along the roadside, sitting in trees or on power lines as this one was.

We didn't see our first rough-legged hawk until we headed north out of Orwell, into the lower Champlain Valley. This one is a light morph, the more common plumage.

He was "kiting" (holding stationary in flight) while searching the field below for prey. Red-tailed hawks also "kite".

We found one snowy owl along the way in West Addison.

 The trees were still covered in ice from the recent ice storm. It didn't seem to bother this red-tailed hawk though.

red-tailed hawk

 

 A snow bunting posed for some pictures by the side of the road.

 Another rough-legged hawk (this one a dark morph) relieved himself before flying off. We didn't take it personally.......

 The name "Rough-legged" Hawk refers to the feathered legs. This hawk, the Ferruginous Hawk, and the Golden Eagle are the only American hawks to have legs feathered all the way to the toes.

Red-tailed Hawk Food Fight!!

We were in the right place at the right time when we birded along River Road in Walpole, NH. This stop was at Boggy Meadow Farm.

We saw two raptors fighting. They were just about out of sight in the soft snow. Gerry started shooting pictures and we tried to figure out what was going on. 

One seemed to have the upper hand or should I say "upper wing".

This looks like - Simon says - raise your right hand.

It was quite a dance!

We were still not sure what was going on, but it looked like the red-tail on the left was winning.

At one point, the red-tail on the right was out of sight.

But he seemed to get back up.

The loser takes off.

Then the winner flies away and now it's apparent. The fight was over a pigeon!

The "trophy" looks rather mangled. Hope it was worth it!

Red-tailed Hawk Take-off

Red-tailed hawk

We chased another rare bird and dipped........but Gerry got some great shots of a red-tail. Enjoy the photos!