On Cooper’s hawk

This post may be very controversial. Cooper’s hawks do not have an affinity for the sky. In my many years of hawking, I do not recall having observed a Cooper’s hawk (COHA) in the sky during non-migration. So, I suggest that you understand COHA migration times and add a fudge factor of a week or two.

I must describe “sky.” The sky is an area above the tallest trees, then add another 20 feet or so. A COHA must have a barometer or altimeter which will prohibit going into the sky, during non- migration times. I have just read recently, that COHA do not fly very high. What I am saying is much more defined than that short article I saw on the internet.

I am very aware of birding information presented on Tweeters (WA birders listserve), the NJ birders listserve, and PA birders listserve. I have read their information for four years. I notice that seldom do birders record the age of accipiters or of the sex. Of course, aging and sexing of accipiters is very rare. There are other factors that birders do not present— altitude of the accipiter and elapsed time of observation. And this is very understandable, as birders are not hawk watchers. Here is one of my profound statements: Birders are not hawk watchers and most of them will never become hawk watchers. It is too much of another discipline, too much of a leap of faith.

COHA do not have an affinity for the sky— only during migration. Think about it— do you age Turkey Vultures. Do your birding friends age and-or sex Osprey. How often have you observed a report on a Harrier, but the hawk is not aged or not sexed. I understand, that if you sex a male Harrier, you, at the same time will age the hawk. Also, if you happen to age a Harrier then that hawk will also be male. Also, what I am saying is that rarely will you observe a male Harrier and even more rarely will you observe a mature, male Harrier. NB.