Laughing Falcon
Want to hear a joke to start off your Monday morning work week? Well, I do not have one, but this Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) probably does. Photographed in Costa Rica by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreMerlin Meal
Here’s a little Throwback Thursday to a very recent day – my Christmas Bird Count! This Merlin (Falco columbarius) was the last new species added to our section of the count circle, and we enjoyed it chasing House Sparrows upon initially sighting it. A Cooper’s Hawk came out of nowhere and scared all of the birds, startling the falcon and causing it to drop its prey. However, a little while later we saw it had successfully captured another House Sparrow, this time without losing the meal. It took the bird to a snag and went on with its early evening dining under cloudy late...
Read MoreCooper’s Hawk
I completely forgot to post these two photos of a young Cooper’s Hawk from last month, so here they are now. This individual was going after a Song Sparrow that had taken cover in a brush pile. It really seemed as if more accipiters remained in the Northeast during the extreme December record heat with more prey to find than usual in very cooperative weather conditions. What do you think is harder – hunting on a 60 degree sunny day with a light southerly breeze, or finding a meal when several inches of snow is falling in 20 degree temperatures with a bitter northerly flow? I...
Read MoreGray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus)
This was a fascinating sighting by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser in Costa Rica a few days ago, and it was the first time he had ever observed it. This raptor put two and two together thinking, “Hey, maybe I can get a free meal while these guys have birds flying out from their hands,” during their banding operation. The Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) stuck around for most of the day watching them process birds and waiting to see if it could take advantage of the situation. Luckily the humans were a step or two ahead of it, but it was an interesting behavior to watch.
Read MoreWhite-tailed Kite Hovering
It won’t be long until RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser will be heading back to the tropics for another wintering season of awesome research and field work in Central America. Later on in the season RTPI President Twan Leenders will be traveling once again as well as the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History continues its truly global art, education and conservation work. This is a White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus), one species that I will be jealous of them getting to see. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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