Radar Migration September 10, 2015
This eastern radar screenshot was taken just before midnight as the birds have lifted off with extremely heavy nocturnal migration occurring everywhere to the west of the cold front on those lovely northerly winds. New England is being mostly shut out of the passerine movement tonight as precipitation remains over the region. The cool air will continue to pour in behind the front making for a strong diurnal raptor migration day Friday at hawk watch sites, and then a great Saturday morning for everyone in the Northeast. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreYard Sharp-shinned Hawk
Here is a somewhat bigger recent bird from Twan’s yard, the Sharp-shinned Hawk! Hey, raptors have to eat too, and they are doing their biological function by preying on the various other avian populations in the area. They have growing young that need all the food they can get…after all, a significant percentage of their soon to be fledged and subsequently juvenile birds will starve to death. Nature is a difficult balance to say the least.
Read MoreMagnificent Merlin
This magnificent Merlin certainly looks wonderful on a warm spring morning! I photographed this friendly bird today. I actually saw three of them in total as they are on the move back to their breeding grounds, some of which may be right near us. Last year we had a Merlin nest only a couple blocks from us at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, and others were scattered throughout Chautauqua County. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreStarving Raptors
These photos are of a Northern Harrier on the hunt, swooping over grasslands and fields in search of small mammal prey. While I took these shots mere days ago this type of predatory behavior in itself has been a bit more scarce than usual this winter. Birds of prey, including owls and various hawks, have had a very difficult time finding food during the historically cold and very snowy conditions. Needing more calories than ever to survive in this weather they have had very little to find, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reports there has been a high mortality...
Read MoreBald Eagle in Florida
Twan took this shot of an immature Bald Eagle in flight in Florida, the bird spending its winter in a far more pleasant climate. In the Northeast we have had a lot of Bald Eagle action during all of these historically frigid days with the enormous raptor hunting waterfowl on any open water it can find and grabbing fish from icy rivers.
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