News: Hawks & Kites

[Alison]

Lincoln, Nebraska

July 26, 2016



A hawk took a big interest in a TV news weather-cam on Monday.

KOLN in Lincoln, Nebraska said the hawk likes to hang out in front of the camera mounted on their tower, so they check in on it from time to time.

But they've never seen it stare them down like this.

They speculated it had a lot to say about the weather that day.

To see the video:

http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Hawk-checks-out-TV-stations-weather-camera-388289662.html

[The Peregrine Chick]

Here's a neat project to keep an eye on through the winter and into next spring ....





Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's Broad-winged Hawk Project
http://www.hawkmountain.org/science/broadwing-tracking/page.aspx?id=4456

About the Project: Join us as we track the amazing journey of the broad-winged hawk from space using satellite telemetry technology, and together we'll trace the movements of this long-distance migrant from Pennsylvania to Central and South America, and back. This study marks the first time a telemetry unit has ever been placed on a juvenile broadwing. Hawk Mountain is grateful to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for its State Wildlife Grant, as well as support from ATAS International and other private donors and supporters on Indiegogo for making this work possible.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Flaming hawk with snake in its talons sparks $10k brush fire
The Weather Network - 11 June 2015

In a scene beyond the imagination of any nature documentary, a hawk carrying a snake in its talons struck power lines north of San Diego Tuesday, sparking a hillside fire.

Despite the flames burning near several local businesses, the incident resulted in $10,000 damage but required no evacuations as officers were quick to call in San Diego Fire-Rescue crews who contained the fire within an hour. Up to 80 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire, including a helicopter used to drop water on it.

Fire officials confirmed the cause of the blaze after locating the dead bird and snake in the aftermath.

"A hawk that hit the high voltage power line, caught fire, and fell to the ground," SD Fire-Rescue spokesperson Lee Swanson said in a written release.


Hear interview & watch video = http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/flaming-hawk-with-snake-in-its-talons-sparks-us-brush-fire/52483/

WARNING - VIDEO HAS A GRAPHIC IMAGE OF THE DEAD HAWK

[The Peregrine Chick]

Big day at one of the Veracruz, Mexico hawk migration sites ... at least for Mississippi Kites ... 15,591 over a 6.5 hour period.  That brings the total to just under 174,000 kites (70,755 in Aug and 102,968 so far in Sept) through that site since the site opened on August 20th.  The day with the highest count was August 29th with over 27,000 in a 10 hour period and there have been no days between August 20th and today that MIKIs have not been observed at this site.  Imagine having 174,000 peregrines ... 

in case folks are looking for these numbers here ...

[The Peregrine Chick]

For those interested, Mississippi Kites (no idea if ours as well) have been hitting southern migration sites for the last couple/three weeks, but only on certain days.  Today was one of those days - 9380 kites went through a Veracruz, Mexico migration site in just under 9 hours.  The only other raptor identified during this same period was 1 osprey.  Counts in Texas a bit earlier were in the 1000s a couple of days but this seems to have been the big day for MIKIs.

[GCG]

According to Birding News, these Mississippi Kites have nested and it contains at least 1 chick. They are not releasing the location of the nest.

Just as a point of (maybe) interest, keeping raptor (falcon, hawk, eagle, osprey, owl & now kite) nest locations confidential has become a standard practice with our birding groups (and likely many others too) for the security of the birds.  Unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions and sometimes there are just too many good intentioned folks wanting to get a look and the result can be the same.  

                                                                                   
Your suggestion is one I will follow. These birds have excited many and now that confirmation of a nest has been posted, we should not spook the Kites. I am sure there will be many more photos to see.  

[Kinderchick]

 Actually, our very good friend is the birder who first saw these birds. He lives a very short walk from there. He sits at the intersection on a lawn chair with his camera (with a larrrge lens) and his binocs. He has been sending photos to us and others and these amazing birds have captured the attention of many. He has posted many photos of his sightings on Flickr.  

Wow! Beautiful photos of many Manitoba birds! Thanks for sharing, gcg.

[The Peregrine Chick]

According to Birding News, these Mississippi Kites have nested and it contains at least 1 chick. They are not releasing the location of the nest.

Just as a point of (maybe) interest, keeping raptor (falcon, hawk, eagle, osprey, owl & now kite) nest locations confidential has become a standard practice with our birding groups (and likely many others too) for the security of the birds.  Unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions and sometimes there are just too many good intentioned folks wanting to get a look and the result can be the same.

Must admit I haven't gone out yet because I know there is quite a following already ... hopefully I'll get a peek when the new-ness of the discovery wears off a bit. Meantime, just going to enjoy vicariously through photos and reports from other birders.  So not that different than many of our members here who are too far away to visit our birds in person  

[dupre501]

According to Birding News, these Mississippi Kites have nested and it contains at least 1 chick. They are not releasing the location of the nest.

This is amazing news.

[dupre501]

Wow! Took a look at the photos, they are beautiful.

[The Peregrine Chick]

 Actually, our very good friend is the birder who first saw these birds. He lives a very short walk from there. He sits at the intersection on a lawn chair with his camera (with a larrrge lens) and his binocs. He has been sending photos to us and others and these amazing birds have captured the attention of many. He has posted many photos of his sightings on Flickr.  


https://www.flickr.com/photos/96313041%40N08/

He also has some nice photos of Beau .... 

[GCG]

   Actually, our very good friend is the birder who first saw these birds. He lives a very short walk from there. He sits at the intersection on a lawn chair with his camera (with a larrrge lens) and his binocs. He has been sending photos to us and others and these amazing birds have captured the attention of many. He has posted many photos of his sightings on Flickr.  



https://www.flickr.com/photos/96313041%40N08/

[The Peregrine Chick]

Apparently there was a whole whack of "big" cameras at the gathering this morning  
Not sure if Dennis was working today ...

I guess we'll find out in due time if our Dennis was there with "Wowzer"!

He hasn't been so far ... 

[Kinderchick]

Apparently there was a whole whack of "big" cameras at the gathering this morning  
Not sure if Dennis was working today ...

I guess we'll find out in due time if our Dennis was there with "Wowzer"!

[The Peregrine Chick]

Apparently there was a whole whack of "big" cameras at the gathering this morning 
Not sure if Dennis was working today ...