Some tactics

Here are some tactics for finding and observing Goshawks and other raptors. The idea is to use abrupt weather changes. The weather can change from good to bad and also from bad to good. Usually bad weather takes time to build up and to travel. But, when weather changes from poor to excellent the time element can be very rapid. This is only logical. Pay attention to the weather report. Often the weather person is very accurate on predicting when the storm will clear out.

If you think that a raptor might be nesting or roosting, let us think on a hillside or in thick trees, even if in the city limits, you should post up to observe the entire site in one fell swoop. Give yourself a fudge factor of 15 minutes. In other words, if the weatherman said the storm will clear at noon, you should get to your post 15 minutes early.

So, here might be the story. There was a rain storm that was now two days or two and a half   days old. If a raptor is nesting or roosting in any particular area; The raptor will want to depart the trees and stretch its wings. Also the hawk is probably famished. So the hawk wants to scout for prey.

This information pertains to Williamsport, Pa. In June 1996 to November 1998, I was a resident. I lived in a large apartment building, half way up a steep hill. While sitting on my small balcony observing an electric storm coming toward me from the south, coming toward the Bald Eagle Mountains, were two raptors, flying wing tip to wing tip. They were large and appeared to be black. They were steady pumping, with no gliding. As they came close and to the side and behind the building I realized they were two female goshawks. They were making their way into or past the Grampian Hills. They were beating a path to get away from the storm.

In winter, I was walking the path near the dike in the Faxon area. It was just starting to snow.  There was a mature male NG at about 100 feet altitude, pumping away, no gliding for this hawk. The hawk was heading toward a comfort zone. It was heading for the Grampian Hills.

The takeaway— keep your eyes on the sky to observe if a raptor is beating a path ( home?) in order to escape poor weather conditions. NB.