Elk Rapids Almanac: February 2019
February 1 by Barb Mullaly
This photo was taken on a deck in downtown Elk Rapids, and identified as a Red Tailed Hawk.
Here are a few factoids on Red-Tailed Hawks:
- our most common and widespread “ buteo”, i.e.buzzard hawks.
- broad wings, broad, rounded tails...”chunky” in shape and size ( 19 to 25 inches long) compared to long-tailed “ accipiters”( goshawk and coopers hawk) and “ falcons “ ( sparrow hawks, pigeon hawks, gyrfalcons, peregrines) which have long pointed wings with long tails.
- red tails have “ zoned feathering”, i.e. a light breast, a streaked belly, and often a red banded tail.
- young/ immature red tails frequently have more white feathering, especially on their breast
-great flying prowess, circle high overhead, soaring in the blue sky. Their gyres are both for hunting food, for mating, and for chasing away intruders- possibly also just for hawk enjoyment._Ken Bloem, bird watcher.
- For a great read: Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park, by Marie Winn. “Engaging…Dr. Zhivago with feathers.”-The Boston Globe.
February 1 by Barb Mullaly
This photo was taken on a deck in downtown Elk Rapids, and identified as a Red Tailed Hawk.
Here are a few factoids on Red-Tailed Hawks:
- our most common and widespread “ buteo”, i.e.buzzard hawks.
- broad wings, broad, rounded tails...”chunky” in shape and size ( 19 to 25 inches long) compared to long-tailed “ accipiters”( goshawk and coopers hawk) and “ falcons “ ( sparrow hawks, pigeon hawks, gyrfalcons, peregrines) which have long pointed wings with long tails.
- red tails have “ zoned feathering”, i.e. a light breast, a streaked belly, and often a red banded tail.
- young/ immature red tails frequently have more white feathering, especially on their breast
-great flying prowess, circle high overhead, soaring in the blue sky. Their gyres are both for hunting food, for mating, and for chasing away intruders- possibly also just for hawk enjoyment._Ken Bloem, bird watcher.
- For a great read: Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park, by Marie Winn. “Engaging…Dr. Zhivago with feathers.”-The Boston Globe.
February 7 by Kathy Carpenter
Adult Bald Eagle on the beach near my house.—These birds are coming back from near extinction. There were 800 nesting spotted in Michigan last year. At one point there were only 40.
Adult Bald Eagle on the beach near my house.—These birds are coming back from near extinction. There were 800 nesting spotted in Michigan last year. At one point there were only 40.
For more eagle excitement and information, Watch this daring and dramatic rescue of an eagle. Posted by Wings of Wonder on their website.
February 10 by Lucy Polemitis
Winter Wonder Land in Wilcox Palmer Shah Preserve, sports a trail for kids, rabbits, deer, and squirrels.
Winter Wonder Land in Wilcox Palmer Shah Preserve, sports a trail for kids, rabbits, deer, and squirrels.
