raptor id workshop & plum island hawk migration · identification technique 30 minutes...

Raptor ID Workshop

& Plum Island Hawk Migration

Brian Rusnica / Eastern Mass Hawk Watch

Welcome!

Joppa Flats Education Center

Workshop Schedule

Segment Schedule Time

Introductions 15 minutes 9:00-9:15

Identification Technique 30 minutes 9:15-9:45

Massachusetts Migrant Hawk Species 30 minutes 9:45-10:15

Break 10 minutes 10:15-10:25

Massachusetts Migrant Hawk Species 45 minutes 10:25-11:10

Hawkwatching at Plum Island 20 minutes 11:10-11:30

Field Trip: Meet at PRNWR Lot #1 2.5 hours 11:30-2:00

Raptor ID Workshop Goals

Raptor ID Workshop Goals

For Today

● Intro to Identification Technique

● Overview of 14 expected Massachusetts

migrant raptor species

● Intro to Hawkwatching at Plum Island

● Practice in the field

For Tomorrow

● Identify Areas to Explore next

○ Media for Raptor ID

○ Organizations

○ Equipment for Hawkwatching

Birding Ethics (American Birding Association)

1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.

● Always: keep back from nests, roosts, & feeding sites

● Always: stay on trails

● Always: leave no trace

● Limit: human impact

● Limit: advertising locations of nesting/wintering birds

● Limit: use of audio recordings

● Never: baiting

● Never: intentional flushing

● Never: use of flash photography

Source: http://listing.aba.org/ethics/

http://listing.aba.org/ethics/

Birding Ethics (American Birding Association)

2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.

● Always: be a birder ambassador

● Never: bird on private property

3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.

● Always: monitor feeder conditions

● Never: expose birds to domestic pets

4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.

● Always: Seek ethical guides and organizations

● Always: call out unethical behavior

Source: http://listing.aba.org/ethics/

http://listing.aba.org/ethics/

About Me

Brian Rusnica (Cambridge, MA)● Counter & co-coordinator, Mount Watatic Fall

Hawkwatch site● Counter, Plum Island Spring Hawkwatch site● Board of Directors, Eastern Mass Hawk Watch● Board of Directors, North East Hawk Watch● Administrator, “Raptor ID” Facebook group● Links

○ http://flickr.com/photos/quadceratops ○ http://14hawks8owls.com○ http://twitter.com/CambridgeCoops○ http://hawkseason.com

http://flickr.com/photos/quadceratops

http://14hawks8owls.com

http://twitter.com/CambridgeCoops

http://hawkseason.com

Identification Technique

Identification Technique Outline

● Disclaimers

● Basic Terms○ Parts & Plumage

● Size, Scale & Shape○ Sparrow > Robin > Crow > Goose

○ Raptor Shapes

● Behavior○ Flight Style

○ Habitat

○ Hunting Style

○ Vocalization

Disclaimers

● Students, not experts

● Exceptions to every rule

● Some birds cannot be identified

● Birds have wings

● Practice, not equipment

Identification Technique

● Combination of field marks

● Shape

● Flight Style

● Plumage

● “Learn the basics well”

○ Learn the minutiae later

Basic Terms

Basic Terms

Field Mark - visible mark or characteristic that can be used for identification

Topside - side of a bird facing upwards when in level flight

Underside - side of a bird facing ground when in level flight

GISS (General Impression, Size & Shape) - Overall impression of a bird

Streaked/Streaks - vertically-oriented marks

Barred/Bars - horizontally-oriented marks

Banded/Bands - alternating bands of color

Size, Scaleand Shape

Behavior

Flight Styles

SoaringSoaring Gliding Soar-Hunting

Rough-legged Hawk Osprey Red-tailed Hawk

Flight Styles

Head-on Wing-on Going away

Red-tailed Hawk Northern Harrier Merlin

Flight Styles

Flapping Hovering Stooping

American Kestrel American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon

Flight Styles

Dihedral Modified Dihedral Flat

Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Bald Eagle

Habitat & Likely Species

Open Areas / Grasslands

● American Kestrel

● Northern Harrier

● Rough-legged Hawk

Forest

● Red-tailed Hawk

● Red-shouldered Hawk

● Broad-winged Hawk

● Sharp-shinned Hawk

● Northern Goshawk

Wetlands/Lakes/Coastal

● Bald Eagle

● Osprey

Urban/Suburban

● Red-tailed Hawk

● Cooper’s Hawk

● Peregrine Falcon

General

● Turkey Vulture

● Merlin

Habitat & Likely Species

Soar hunting

● Red-tailed Hawk● Bald Eagle

Perch hunting

● Red-shouldered Hawk● Broad-winged Hawk

Pursuit/On-wing

● Cooper’s Hawk● Sharp-shinned Hawk● Merlin

Hunting Styles

Hovering

● American Kestrel● Rough-legged Hawk● Osprey

Stooping

● Peregrine Falcon

Low Flight

● Northern Harrier

Hunting Styles

Fishing

● Bald Eagle● Osprey

Insecting

● American Kestrel● Merlin

Scavenging

● Turkey Vulture● Bald Eagle

Hunting Styles

Vocalizations and Calls

Peregrine Falcon

Osprey

Northern Goshawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

All audio samples via Macaulay Library at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/137573




Species Accounts

ButeosHawks with long, broad wings and

short tails

Red-tailed Hawk

✓ A large buteo with a bellyband of streaked feathers and dark patagial marks.

Overview


Adult: ● Brick-orange top of tail● Dark brown irises● Complex brown tones● Both sexes plumage identical

Red-tailed HawkAdult


Juvenile: ● Light brown tail with many thin,

dark brown bands● Pale yellow irises● Monochromatic brown tones.● Both sexes plumage identical

Red-tailed HawkJuvenile

Red-tailed Hawk

Flight styles: ● Soars in wide, slow circles with slight

dihedral, uplifted at hands ● Also kites, hovers, swoops● Fluid, shallow wingbeats

At Distance/In Flight

Red-shouldered Hawk

✓ A medium buteo with a pale crescent marks on outer wing and many thin pale bands on a dark tail.

Overview

Red-shouldered Hawk


Adult● Rufous barred breast● Rufous shoulder patch● Black & white banded flight feathers● Black tail with thin white bands● Dark brown irises● Both sexes plumage identical

Adult

Red-shouldered Hawk


Juvenile● Brown-streaks on pale breast,

evenly distributed● Dark brown top● Dark tail with thin white bands● Yellow-to-brown irises● Both sexes plumage identical

Juvenile

Red-shouldered Hawk

● Soars in steady circles on flat wings● Wings pushed slightly forward in a

soar● Blunt/square wingtips● Quick, stiff wingbeats● Pale crescents visible from extreme

distance


Broad-winged Hawk

✓ A small buteo with a compact shape, stocky wings that are usually pointed at the tips.

Overview

Broad-winged Hawk


Adult:● Rufous-barring on chest, heaviest

near neck and fading near bottom● Bold black/white tail bands● Dark trailing edge to wings● Brown top, pale below● Both sexes plumage identical

Adult

Broad-winged Hawk


Adult:● Variable brown streaking on pale

breast, heaviest on flanks● Dark brown top● Faint, narrow bands with dark

sub-terminal band● Yellow to Yellow-Brown irises● Both sexes plumage identical

Juvenile

Broad-winged Hawk

● Soars in small, tight circles on flat, stocky wings

● Pointed wingtips in a glide● Snappy, stiff wingbeats● Adult’s broad tail-band visible from

extreme distance


Rough-legged Hawk

✓ A large buteo with long, narrow wings, small bill and feet with feathered legs. Comes in light and dark morphs.

Overview

Rough-legged Hawk


Light Morph:● White overall w/dark carpal patches● Variable dark belly and underside

mottling● Irises: Pale Yellow as juv, Dark

Brown as adult● Subtle differences between sexes

Light Morph

Rough-legged Hawk


Dark Morph:● Dark Brown to Black overall● Variable tail patterns including

banding● Irises: Pale Yellow as juv, Dark

Brown as adult● Subtle differences between sexes

Dark Morph

Rough-legged Hawk

● Soars with a slight dihedral on long, lanky wings

● Frequently hovers or kites when hunting

● Floppy, powerful wingbeats


AccipitersHawks with short, rounded wings

and long tails

Sharp-shinned Hawk

✓ A small accipiter with a small, round head, short, round wings, top-heavy torso and a thin, banded tail that can appear squared-off at distance.

Overview

Sharp-shinned Hawk


Adult:● Blue to Blue-Gray top, Rufous

barring on pale underside● Dark cap and nape: “hooded”● Irises: Orange to Deep Red● Males more vibrantly colored than

females

Adult

Sharp-shinned Hawk


Juvenile:● Brown top, Rufous-Brown, blurry

streaking on pale underside● Irises: Pale Yellow to Yellow-Orange● Both sexes plumage identical

Juvenile

Sharp-shinned Hawk

● Buoyant, agile but unsteady flight● Soars in tight circles on stubby, short

wings● ‘Flap-flap-glide’ - Many rapid,

snappy wingbeats between glides○ Wingbeats too quick to count

● Small heads, narrow and square-tipped tails


Cooper’s Hawk

✓ A medium accipiter with a large squarish head, longer, thinner wings, tubular torso and a banded tail that can appear rounded-off at distance.

Overview

Cooper’s Hawk


Adult:● Blue to Blue-Gray top, Rufous

barring on pale underside● Dark cap with pale nape: “capped”● Irises: Orange to Deep Red● Males more vibrantly colored than

females

Adult

Cooper’s Hawk


Juvenile:● Brown top, Dark Brown, neat, thin

teardrop-shape streaking on pale underside

● Irises: Pale Yellow to Yellow-Orange● Both sexes plumage identical

Juvenile

Cooper’s Hawk

● Steady in flight whether soaring or powered

● Soars with stiff leading edge to the wings with slight dihedral

● ‘Flap-flap glide’ - Fewer stiff, strong wingbeats between glides.○ Countable wingbeats

● Large head, round tail tip


Northern Goshawk

✓ A large accipiter with a small head, broad shoulders, bold white eyebrow, broad wings with tapered hands and broad tail.

Overview

Northern Goshawk


Adult:● Blue-Gray topside, pale gray

underside with faint barring● Irises: Orange to Deep Red● Subtle plumage differences between

sexes

Adult

Photo: © Lev Frid / Macaulay Lab

Northern Goshawk


Adult:● Mottled brown topside, heavily

streaked brown on pale underside including undertail coverts

● Wavy pattern and pale borders on topside of tail bands

● Irises: Pale Yellow to Yellow-Orange

Juvenile

Northern Goshawk

● Steady in soar or direct flight● Wingbeat is a deep, fluid row● Buteo-like in wingbeat and in a soar

on steady, flat wings● Falcon-like in a glide with pointed

wingtips


FalconsRaptors with narrow, pointed

wings

American Kestrel

✓ A small falcon with long, slim wings, a slim torso, long tail and boldly marked face with two dark malar stripes. Both sexes have orange top sides, while males have blue upperwings.

Overview

American Kestrel


Male:● Blue upperwings w/black primaries● Orange tail with a black tip● Buffy underside with black spotting● Irises: Solid Dark Brown● White “pearls” trailing edge of wing

Male

American Kestrel


Male:● Orange topside with black barring● Orange tail w/many thin black bands● Buffy underside w/rufous streaking● Irises: Solid Dark Brown

Female

American Kestrel

● Buoyant, unsteady flight, flapping and gliding intermittently

● Frequently hovers while hunting● Hunts during migration and may eat

on the wing● Soars in tight circles on flat, thin,

pointed wings● Quick, flickering wingbeats

Male At Distance/In Flight

American Kestrel

● Buoyant, unsteady flight, flapping and gliding intermittently

● Frequently hovers while hunting● Hunts during migration and may eat

on the wing● Soars in tight circles on flat, thin,

pointed wings● Quick, flickering wingbeats

Female At Distance/In Flight

Merlin

✓ A small falcon with shorter, broad and sharply pointed wings, a stocky torso, short, and a boldly banded tail. Both sexes dark above and heavily streaked below; adult males have blue backs.

Overview

Merlin


Adult Male● Dark blue topside● Lightly streaked below● Irises: Solid Dark Brown

Adult Male

Merlin


Juvenile and Adult Female● Dark Gray-Brown topside● Heavily streaked below● Irises: Solid Dark Brown

Juvenile & Ad Female

Merlin

● Remarkably steady, strong and fast flight

● Soars in tight circles on flat, stocky, pointed wings

● Hunts during migration and may eat on the wing

● Rapid, stiff and powerful wingbeats


Merlin

● Remarkably steady, strong and fast flight

● Soars in tight circles on flat, stocky, pointed wings

● Hunts during migration and may eat on the wing

● Rapid, stiff and powerful wingbeats

Ad Male At Distance/In Flight

Peregrine Falcon

✓ A large falcon with long, narrow and sharply pointed wings, a muscular torso, long tail and a dark head with malar stripe for a “helmeted” look.

Overview

Peregrine Falcon


Adult:● Dark Blue-Gray topside, pale

underside with thin, dark barring● Subtle plumage differences between

sexes● Irises: Solid Dark Brown

Adult

Peregrine Falcon


Juvenile:● Brown-Gray topside, buffy

underside with dark streaking● Irises: Solid Dark Brown

Juvenile

Peregrine Falcon

● Steady flight and unmatched speed● Soars in broad circles on long, flat

pointed wings● Rapid, powerful, fluid, rolling

wingbeats● Stoops at remarkable speed


Eagles & OspreyLarge raptors with unique

characteristics

Bald Eagle

✓ A very large eagle with long, broad, flat wings and a large head and bill. Plumage varies widely by age and individual.

Overview

Bald Eagle


Adult:● “Unmistakable” bright white head

and tail● Dark torso and wings● Irises: Pale Yellow● Both sexes plumage identical

Adult (5+ years)

Bald Eagle


Adult:● Widely varied Black-Brown and

White mottling in head, body, underwings and tail

● Irises: Dark Brown to Pale Yellow with age

● Both sexes plumage identical

Immature (2-4 years)

Bald Eagle


Adult:● Widely varied Black-Brown and

White mottling in head, body, underwings and tail

● Irises: Dark Brown● “Two-toned” appearance● Both sexes plumage identical

Juvenile (1st year)

Bald Eagle

● Powerful and slow in flight, unbothered by most wind

● Soars in large, slow circles on flat wings

● Glides on drooped wings, can appear M-shaped

● Strong, stiff wingbeats with deep upstroke

● Adult white head/tail visible from extreme distance

Adult At Distance/In Flight

Bald Eagle

● Powerful and slow in flight, unbothered by most wind

● Soars in large, slow circles on flat wings

● Glides on drooped wings, can appear M-shaped

● Strong, stiff wingbeats with deep upstroke

Immature At Distance/In Flight

Osprey

✓ A large raptor with very long and very thin wings, and a small head. Bright white undersides with dark wrist markings and flight feathers.

Overview

Osprey

✓ A large raptor with very long and very thin wings, and a small head. Bright white undersides with dark wrist markings and flight feathers.

Adult:● Dark topside with white head

featuring bold black eyestripe● Irises: Yellow● Subtle differences between sexes● Subtle differences between Ad/Juv

Adult

Osprey

● Steady flight even in strong winds● Soars and glides in large circles on

long, thin, bowed wings, creating an M-shape

● Frequently hovers before diving into water while fishing

● Slow, stiff and shallow wingbeats


Northern Harrier

✓ A large raptor with very long and very thin wings, a long tail, an owl-like facial disk, and a white “rump.”

Overview

Northern Harrier


● Gray top and white underside● Black wingtips● Irises: Lemon Yellow● “Gray Ghost”

Adult Male

Northern Harrier


● Brown top and heavily streaked underside

● Heavily marked patagial area and undertail coverts

● Irises: Yellow-Brown to Yellow

Adult Female

Northern Harrier


● Brown top and Cinnamon/Orange underside w/variable streaking

● Irises: Juvenile male : Pale Yellow● Irises: Juvenile female: Brown

Juvenile

Northern Harrier

● Lightweight and buoyant with unsteady flight, frequent direction and speed changes

● Long, thin wings always in a dihedral except when gliding

● Frequently seen flying low and slow, hunting close to the ground

● Deep, relaxed wingbeats● White rump visible from distance

Adult M At Distance/In Flight

Northern Harrier

● Lightweight and buoyant with unsteady flight, frequent direction and speed changes

● Long, thin wings always in a dihedral except when gliding

● Frequently seen flying low and slow, hunting close to the ground

● Deep, relaxed wingbeats● White rump visible from distance

Brown Type At Distance

Turkey Vulture

✓ A large raptor with long, broad wings held in a dihedral, and a small, featherless head.

Overview

Turkey Vulture

✓ A large raptor with long, broad wings held in a dihedral, and a small, featherless head.

● Black-brown throughout with silvery flight feathers

● Adult has reddish head, white bill● Juvenile has grayish head and bill● Both sexes plumage identical

Adult

Turkey Vulture

● Teetering from side-to-side in a dihedral in any wind

● Soars in slow, lazy circles● Large profile when seen wing-on,

even from distance● Wingbeats are slow, fluid and end

on upstroke


Irregular MigrantsOther raptors seen

at MA migration sites

Black Vulture

✓ A medium-sized vulture with a short, square-tipped tail, broad, square wings, small head and lighter outer primary feathers.

● Highly social scavengers● Regular in Southeast US, expanding

Northward into MA

Overview

Black Vulture

● Soars in lazy circles on wings that arch forward

● Slight dihedral in a glide or soar● Square wingtips● Quick, shallow wingbeats● Pale primaries and short tail visible

from distance


Golden Eagle

✓ A very large eagle, dark brown with a golden nape, variable white accents in wings and tail, with a small head.

● Regular in mid-Atlantic US, Western US, Canada.

● Subtle differences between ages● Both sexes plumage identical● Mostly solitary

Overview

Golden Eagle

● Soars in slow massive circles with a dihedral

● Steady in even strongest winds, gliding on bowed wings

● Golden nape visible from distance● Smaller head than Bald Eagle● Slow wingbeats that end on

upstroke


Swainson’s Hawk

✓ A large buteo with very long, somewhat slim wings and dark flight feathers.

● Regular in Western US and Canada● Cline of plumage morphs:

○ Light: pale under w/dark bib ○ Dark: dark rufous below

● Unique plumage for adult, sub-adult, juvenile

Overview

Swainson’s Hawk

● Soars in large circles with a dihedral ● Long wings with pointed tips create

an M-shape in glide● Can hover and kite while hunting● Teetering flight● Fluid, powerful but shallow

wingbeats


Mississippi Kite

✓ A medium-sized raptor with a slim body, slim, pointed wings, and a long tail with a flared tip. Mostly gray overall, with pale head.

● Regular in Southeastern US● Very small breeding population in

Northeast and Canada● Unique plumage for adult, sub-adult

and juvenile

Overview

Occurrence of North American Raptors on Migration in the Eastern US

Species Occurrence

Turkey Vulture Common

Osprey Common

Bald Eagle Common

Northern Harrier Common

Sharp-shinned Hawk Common

Cooper’s Hawk Common

Northern Goshawk Uncommon

Species Occurrence

Red-shouldered Hawk Common

Broad-winged Hawk Common

Red-tailed Hawk Common

Rough-legged Hawk Uncommon

American Kestrel Common

Merlin Common

Peregrine Falcon Common

Species Occurrence

Golden Eagle Fairly Common

Black Vulture Common except North

Mississippi Kite Rare

Swainson’s Hawk Rare

Source: Hawks At A Distance (Liguori 2011)

Hawkwatching at Plum Island

Migration Basics● Migration: birds move due to

resource (food and nesting location)

availability

● Twice a year, in Fall and Spring

● Multiple flyways in North America

○ Pacific Flyway

○ Central Flyway

○ Mississippi Flyway

○ Atlantic Flyway

Migration Basics● Atlantic Flyway: the routes and

habitats that birds migrate along

the Atlantic

● Connects breeding and wintering

grounds

● Coastal Migration

○ Coast as landmark

○ Flight over water

Migration Basics● Permanent Resident vs Migrant

● Short-distance vs Long-distance

Migrant

● Total vs Partial Migrant

Hawkwatching defined● Volunteers identify and count

migratory raptors (birds of prey)

in an effort to survey migratory

numbers.

● Watch at sites along migratory

routes.

● Value of data requires

year-to-year consistency.

● Citizen science

History of Hawkwatching at Plum Island

● Parker River National Wildlife Refuge established 1942

● Hawk Migration Association of North America established 1974

● Eastern Mass Hawk Watch established 1976

● Spring hawkwatching at Plum Island begins 1977, revived in 2006

Bar Charts for Spring Migration at Plum Island, MA

Species Bar Chart

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk

Northern Goshawk

Species Bar Chart

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

American Kestrel

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Source: Hawkcount.org

Probability to see Raptor during Spring at Plum Island, MA

Species Probability

Turkey Vulture 2 (Poor to Fair)

Osprey 4 (Good to Very Good)

Bald Eagle 1 (Very Poor to Poor)

Northern Harrier 4 (Good to Very Good)

Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 (Good to Very Good)

Cooper’s Hawk 2 (Poor to Fair)

Northern Goshawk 1 (Very Poor to Poor)

Species Probability

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (Very Poor to Poor)

Broad-winged Hawk 1 (Very Poor to Poor)

Red-tailed Hawk 3 (Fair to Good)

Rough-legged Hawk 3 (Fair to Good)

American Kestrel 4 (Good to Very Good)

Merlin 3 (Fair to Good)

Peregrine Falcon 3 (Fair to Good)

Source: http://www.bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/parkerriverbirds.html

http://www.bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/parkerriverbirds.html

Spring Migration Count Results at Plum Island, MA : 2006-current

NorthEast Hawk Watch - Fall Migration Trends since 1980

Turkey Vulture

↗Increasing

Osprey

↘Decreasing

BaldEagle

↗Increasing

NorthernHarrier

↘Decreasing

Source: NorthEast Hawk Watch 2017 Hawk Migration Report


Red-shoulderedHawk

↗Increasing

Red-tailedHawk

↘Decreasing

Broad-wingedHawk

↘Decreasing

Rough-leggedHawk

↘Decreasing


Cooper’sHawk

↗Increasing

Sharp-shinnedHawk

↘Decreasing

NorthernGoshawk

↘Decreasing


Merlin

→Stable

AmericanKestrel

↘Decreasing

PeregrineFalcon

↗Increasing

Hawkwatching FAQ

How do you know you’re not counting the same bird over and over?

● Consider: Direction of flight, behavior, species, watch as long as possible.

How do you count them when it’s a huge group of birds?

● All counts are estimates. Count by 5, 10, 20, 100 when applicable.

How far do they fly per day?

● Uncertain. On favorable winds, Broad-winged Hawks known to do 200-300 miles.

Areas to Explore

Areas to Explore Outline

● Media for Raptor ID

● Organizations

○ Eastern Mass Hawk Watch

○ Mass Audubon

○ Cornell Lab of Ornithology

○ HMANA

○ Hawkwatch International

● Equipment for Hawkwatching

Media for Raptor ID

Books to OwnBeginner

The Crossley ID Guide: RaptorsRichard Crossley

Jerry LiguoriBrian Sullivan

2013 $25 288pp

Books to OwnIntermediate

Hawks From Every AngleJerry Liguori

2005 $20 129pp

Books to OwnIntermediate

Hawks At A DistanceJerry Liguori

2011 $20 216pp

Books to OwnAdvanced

Birds of Prey of the East:A Field Guide

Brian Wheeler2018 $25 304pp

Apps to OwnALL LEVELS

Raptor IDBy Hawkwatch Int’l and

Cornell Lab of Ornithology34 species of diurnal raptors

1,000+ annotated photosIdentification video for each species

F R E E

Organizations to Know

Eastern Mass Hawk Watch

Web: http://massbird.org/emhw

● Regional group of Massachusetts hawkwatchers

● Monitor sites and count raptors during Spring and Fall Migration

● Locations of hawkwatch sites in your area

● Annual meeting w/keynote speakers

● $10 Annual Dues

http://massbird.org/emhw

Mass Audubon

Web: http://massaudubon.org

● State’s largest non-profit focused on land & wildlife conservation

● 59 Sanctuaries, 20 Nature Centers covering 38K Acres

● Ecological management

● Educational programs for children and adults

● Political advocacy

● Breeding Bird Atlas - statewide bird population project

● $48+ Annual Membership w/extra incentives

http://massaudubon.org

HMANA(Hawk Migration Association of North America)

Web: http://hmana.org and http://hawkcount.org

● MI-based non-profit focused on raptor migration

● Hawkcount: daily migration data from 300+ North American sites

● Hawk Migration Studies: bi-annual national print report

● RPI (Raptor Population Index): scientific research tool compiling migration data


http://hmana.org

http://hawkcount.org

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Web: https://www.birds.cornell.edu

● NY-based premiere ornithology institution in the world

● Research, education, and citizen science focused on birds

● eBird - citizen science bird sighting database w/app

● All About Birds - basic online field guide

● Macaulay Library - largest online collection of bird images and sounds

● Birds of North America - advanced digital life history reference

● Merlin - ‘smart’ Bird ID App

● NestWatch, FeederWatch, Great Backyard Bird Count, Global Big Day and more...


https://www.birds.cornell.edu

Hawkwatch International

Web: https://hawkwatch.org/

● UT-based non-profit focused on raptor conservation

● Raptor monitoring, research and education

● Raptor ID App

● Raptor ID Fact Sheets (online field guide) https://hawkwatch.org/learn/factsheets


Equipment for Hawkwatching

Equipment for Hawkwatching

Must-have

● Binoculars○ Recommended: 8×35, 8×40, 10×40, 10×50.

● Layered clothing○ Includes: hat, gloves

● Sun protection

● Water

http://www.hmana.org/new-to-hawkwatching/

Nice-to-have

● Camera

● Spotting Scope

● Field Guide

● Notebook

Hawkwatcher Slang

Hawkwatching

● Bird (n.): possible migrating raptor (“I got a bird”)

● Speck (n.): distant bird, even in binoculars

● Glass (n.): one unit of binocular diameter, e.g. “two

glasses over the horizon”

● Scan (v.): looking for the next raptor by searching

empty sky

● On/Get on (v.): another watcher sees same bird

● Count it (v.): confirming bird is a migrant

● Naked eye (adj.): bird visible without binoculars

Species

● Sharpie or ‘Shin: Sharp-shinned Hawk

● Coop : Cooper’s Hawk

● ‘Tail : Red-tailed Hawk

● ‘Shoulder : Red-shouldered Hawk

● ‘Wing : Broad-winged Hawk

● Roughie: Rough-legged Hawk

● Grey Ghost: Northern Harrier (Adult M)

● TV: Turkey Vulture

raptor id workshop & plum island hawk migration · identification technique 30 minutes...

Documents