There is a trend. And I am excited about it. This web site says— (NG) Northern Goshawks are moving into cities and suburbs and have been doing so for many years. I also suggest— A NG will not often perch in an area near where you are sitting or standing. A NG will often depart its perch as you approach. If the hawk departs its perch and and comes over your zenith, well, that is to your advantage. But, what if the hawk departs away from your position, well, now in many cases you are put into an uncomfortable situation. Because you are not a hawk watcher. Why is this? Because birders are close lookers. They love and only know the close-looking greenery. Also, birders spend a lot of time in birding hot spots. Which limits your time spent toward other birding areas.
Now for the trend. Because of the virus— I call it the Corvid virus—birders are spending more time, just relaxing with their walks in the yard or the neighborhood. Also, birders do not, should not spend time looking into their neighbor’s shrubs and areas near the house. So, birders, even while in their houses are realizing that out there there is plenty of sky. While walking or biking or driving there is also, mainly, plenty of sky.
More to the point. I have over the last four years always been aware of the listing from ABA bird listings of only PA, NJ and Tweeters, WA. I am interested in only raptors. This I have noticed just recently, Swainson’s Hawks, plural, and Broad-winged Hawks, plural, are being observed flying northward in WA. Over the list serve you can feel that birders are taking an interest in the sky! And are interested in observing these two species. If birders would spend more time in the sky, they will observe the Goshawk. But, will they be able to nail the species? So, now is the time, up into around The first of June. Nelson Briefer - Anacortes, WA. www.goshawktalker.blogspot.com.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Interesting subject
Interesting subject from an educated man. Washington Tweeters— subject- hummingbird Id. Date- Mon., April 6. From: diwill AT uw.ed. NB.
The thought: Eat a rat, eat a bat, finish it off with a cat. In all honesty, eat what you wish. I believe the problem is with the handling of the product, but in some cases, there may be a problem even if the meat is handled properly and cooked properly. Just sayin’.
The thought: Eat a rat, eat a bat, finish it off with a cat. In all honesty, eat what you wish. I believe the problem is with the handling of the product, but in some cases, there may be a problem even if the meat is handled properly and cooked properly. Just sayin’.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Another profound statement
I am going to get into trouble with some people, some people are going to get after me. Don Freiday has posted: If you think you have observed Goshawk, well, you probably have not. I take the other side - if you think you observed a Goshawk then you probably have observed a Goshawk. Here is why.
Northern Goshawks are moving into cities and suburbs and have been doing so for many years. Goshawks started moving into cities and suburbs shortly after Cooper’s Hawks started moving into cities and suburbs. Goshawks love the wind, sun, clouds, and thermals. Understand that raptors cannot hide in the sky, only during migration. Resident raptors will seldom go into clouds. You have observed Goshawks, your neighbors have observed Goshawks, your friends have observed Goshawks. To take it one step further— They have observed Goshawks, their friends have observed Goshawks, their neighbors have observed Goshawks. I am referring to the two birders at the Ina Road dam in Tucson.
If you say you think you observed a Goshawk — then you probably did observe a Goshawk. And now the experts, the members of the record committees, the Audubon field trip leaders are going to be put into a situation where they are going be spending extra time in the field trying to refind your bird. And spend time explaining to you that that individual on the internet is spreading misinformation and is planting a seed. He is using psychology to make you think and if you think enough and long enough then what you wish for will become realized. He is a hoaxer.
If you think you observed a Goshawk because it was too large for a Cooper’s Hawk, then that is a good qualifier. If you start to elaborate on the tail, the length, the banding, the terminal band, the color of the band , thickness of the band— then you are going off the deep end. You should only be discussing concrete information. You must use the proper words to describe your observation. If you do not present the proper words to the people in charge, then your information will be put on the back burner or possibly discarded.
Here is what I call concrete information. An explanation of this website. This website is not about the color, pattern or “field marks” of raptors. In other words, I am not interested in the skin, outercoating, feathers, patina, covering of a raptor. I am interested in what I call the “meat” of the bird. The action and behavior of the hawk. On other words, hawks in flight. This site deals with resident raptors; Where they breed and where they migrate, even if they migrate only ten miles. Here is concrete information. An accipiter in flight, it must be active flight or in a glide— draw an imaginary line across the wrists of the accipiter. If the head protrudes outside of this line, the hawk is not a Goshawk or a Sharp- shinned hawk. However, and this could be called advanced hawking, a Goshawk can “ mimic” a Cooper’s hawk wing beats. If the streaking is thick and extensive with a few spots of white peeking through it is a Goshawk. Some people call it a checker board pattern. Wing beats of NG are usually very deep, very rapid, and very flexible. Or somewhat loose and relaxed and reaching forward. Is this what some authors call “rowing motion?” Wing holding - will be stiff and flat, no dihedral. But, this might depend on the wind speed, and if the hawk is soaring upward, hence a slight dihedral.
Now for the profound statement. Hawks in Flight— Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton. Copywrite 1988. Page 70. Go chase!
Can you identify the Red-tailed hawk ( RTHA), I mean in flight. There are some people who have little faith in identifying RTHA at let us say, one mile away. Can you identify the RTHA at two miles away with 8x binoculars? Why not, it is the same raptor at two miles as at one mile. In other words, it is the same shape and proportions and wing beats and wing holding at two miles and at one mile. Now on Puget Sound there should not be a problem, but in the East you could run into the Broad-winged Hawk and the Red-shouldered Hawk. Also, in both cases a dark eagle has to be contemplated. It is possible that in your report you cannot express the proper words to attach to your sighting, but that does not mean that you are wrong in your simple statement “ I don’t think the hawk was a Cooper’s, I think it was a goshawk.”
Back to the profound statement: It is called Rule of Thumb. Note- I call it Rule Number One. Rule of Thumb is simple, profound, and elegant. And if you voice the Rule it is eloquent. The Rule does your “dirty work” for you. In order to use the Rule, you must understand the RTHA.
There is one more factor — my profound statement. That accipiter in the sky during non-migration is probably not a Cooper’s Hawk. Cooper’s Hawks do not have an affinity for the sky during non-migration. Be happy, be healthy.
Northern Goshawks are moving into cities and suburbs and have been doing so for many years. Goshawks started moving into cities and suburbs shortly after Cooper’s Hawks started moving into cities and suburbs. Goshawks love the wind, sun, clouds, and thermals. Understand that raptors cannot hide in the sky, only during migration. Resident raptors will seldom go into clouds. You have observed Goshawks, your neighbors have observed Goshawks, your friends have observed Goshawks. To take it one step further— They have observed Goshawks, their friends have observed Goshawks, their neighbors have observed Goshawks. I am referring to the two birders at the Ina Road dam in Tucson.
If you say you think you observed a Goshawk — then you probably did observe a Goshawk. And now the experts, the members of the record committees, the Audubon field trip leaders are going to be put into a situation where they are going be spending extra time in the field trying to refind your bird. And spend time explaining to you that that individual on the internet is spreading misinformation and is planting a seed. He is using psychology to make you think and if you think enough and long enough then what you wish for will become realized. He is a hoaxer.
If you think you observed a Goshawk because it was too large for a Cooper’s Hawk, then that is a good qualifier. If you start to elaborate on the tail, the length, the banding, the terminal band, the color of the band , thickness of the band— then you are going off the deep end. You should only be discussing concrete information. You must use the proper words to describe your observation. If you do not present the proper words to the people in charge, then your information will be put on the back burner or possibly discarded.
Here is what I call concrete information. An explanation of this website. This website is not about the color, pattern or “field marks” of raptors. In other words, I am not interested in the skin, outercoating, feathers, patina, covering of a raptor. I am interested in what I call the “meat” of the bird. The action and behavior of the hawk. On other words, hawks in flight. This site deals with resident raptors; Where they breed and where they migrate, even if they migrate only ten miles. Here is concrete information. An accipiter in flight, it must be active flight or in a glide— draw an imaginary line across the wrists of the accipiter. If the head protrudes outside of this line, the hawk is not a Goshawk or a Sharp- shinned hawk. However, and this could be called advanced hawking, a Goshawk can “ mimic” a Cooper’s hawk wing beats. If the streaking is thick and extensive with a few spots of white peeking through it is a Goshawk. Some people call it a checker board pattern. Wing beats of NG are usually very deep, very rapid, and very flexible. Or somewhat loose and relaxed and reaching forward. Is this what some authors call “rowing motion?” Wing holding - will be stiff and flat, no dihedral. But, this might depend on the wind speed, and if the hawk is soaring upward, hence a slight dihedral.
Now for the profound statement. Hawks in Flight— Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton. Copywrite 1988. Page 70. Go chase!
Can you identify the Red-tailed hawk ( RTHA), I mean in flight. There are some people who have little faith in identifying RTHA at let us say, one mile away. Can you identify the RTHA at two miles away with 8x binoculars? Why not, it is the same raptor at two miles as at one mile. In other words, it is the same shape and proportions and wing beats and wing holding at two miles and at one mile. Now on Puget Sound there should not be a problem, but in the East you could run into the Broad-winged Hawk and the Red-shouldered Hawk. Also, in both cases a dark eagle has to be contemplated. It is possible that in your report you cannot express the proper words to attach to your sighting, but that does not mean that you are wrong in your simple statement “ I don’t think the hawk was a Cooper’s, I think it was a goshawk.”
Back to the profound statement: It is called Rule of Thumb. Note- I call it Rule Number One. Rule of Thumb is simple, profound, and elegant. And if you voice the Rule it is eloquent. The Rule does your “dirty work” for you. In order to use the Rule, you must understand the RTHA.
There is one more factor — my profound statement. That accipiter in the sky during non-migration is probably not a Cooper’s Hawk. Cooper’s Hawks do not have an affinity for the sky during non-migration. Be happy, be healthy.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
A profound statement
When you tell your neighbor, or your friend, “ That is an accipiter” , well then you have a leg- up on your neighbor. Your neighbor might be impressed with your knowledge. And then you say “ Accipiters can be difficult to identify”.
Now I am thinking— yes accipiters can be difficult to identify— as you have just signified, when you called “ accipiter”, but, you did not call the species— nail the species. You have observed Goshawks, your friends have observed Goshawks, your neighbors have observed Goshawks. Yet, here is the rub. You are not misidentifying raptors (Goshawks), you are just not reporting on them! This is a reflection of your comfort zone! Also, is it possible that you came out of your comfort zone, briefly? Why did you go back into your comfort zone? Was it because of that profound statement (probably by Pete Dunne). Hawks in Flight— Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton. Copywrite 1988. Page 55. NB.
Now I am thinking— yes accipiters can be difficult to identify— as you have just signified, when you called “ accipiter”, but, you did not call the species— nail the species. You have observed Goshawks, your friends have observed Goshawks, your neighbors have observed Goshawks. Yet, here is the rub. You are not misidentifying raptors (Goshawks), you are just not reporting on them! This is a reflection of your comfort zone! Also, is it possible that you came out of your comfort zone, briefly? Why did you go back into your comfort zone? Was it because of that profound statement (probably by Pete Dunne). Hawks in Flight— Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton. Copywrite 1988. Page 55. NB.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Your comfort zone - part 2
The Spiel: My friend and neighbor, John, and I were at the Ina Road Dam in Tucson. We were on the other side of the road of the dam. The small stream on this side is narrow and is nearly visible, as I recall, and is quite hidden by the desert scrub. Away from our position and going farther away were two goshawks. We went to the other side of the dam. There the water was wider and slower than the other side. There was also a sandy- muddy bank, where duck can rest and warm up.
We were standing on a concrete platform with a metal railing when two birders joined us. They appeared to be birding buddies and appeared to be serious guys, probably advanced birders. “What did you see”. Two goshawks. “Where”. “On the other side of the road”. One of the faces had a slight pull. About five minutes later— a female goshawk presented from the right front at about 100 feet altitude and was now broadside at about 200 yards. “ There is the goshawk”. And then came the Spiel.
Sharp- shinned hawks are not common to this area. Cooper’s hawks are more common than Sharp-shinned hawks. And goshawks are rare to this area. “ Do you mean to say that that large raptor with those long wings and that deep wing beat is not a goshawk?” IT is Not a Goshawk. Then some other harsh words were exchanged. Then the two birders started to leave. With all honestly I said “I am sorry I chased you away”.
From this, I think you can understand a profound, possibly a very profound statement, probably from Pete Dunne. Hawks in Flight— Pete Dunne, David Sibley and Clay Sutton. 1988 copywrite. Page 55. NB.
We were standing on a concrete platform with a metal railing when two birders joined us. They appeared to be birding buddies and appeared to be serious guys, probably advanced birders. “What did you see”. Two goshawks. “Where”. “On the other side of the road”. One of the faces had a slight pull. About five minutes later— a female goshawk presented from the right front at about 100 feet altitude and was now broadside at about 200 yards. “ There is the goshawk”. And then came the Spiel.
Sharp- shinned hawks are not common to this area. Cooper’s hawks are more common than Sharp-shinned hawks. And goshawks are rare to this area. “ Do you mean to say that that large raptor with those long wings and that deep wing beat is not a goshawk?” IT is Not a Goshawk. Then some other harsh words were exchanged. Then the two birders started to leave. With all honestly I said “I am sorry I chased you away”.
From this, I think you can understand a profound, possibly a very profound statement, probably from Pete Dunne. Hawks in Flight— Pete Dunne, David Sibley and Clay Sutton. 1988 copywrite. Page 55. NB.
Your comfort zone
The OK Threshold is the technical word for “comfort zone”. The title for this essay, which may be of two postings, could also be called, “You are stuck”. Usually when I use the “stuck” word it is not meant as a demeaning word. The more you read, and what you have already read, the more you will come upon the word— stuck. Everyone becomes stuck. Examples— lawyers, dentists, police officers, fireman, military generals, military advisers, professional football coaches, and birders. Or is it just me— am I stuck on the word stuck?
A birder becomes stuck when using the old method, the passive method, the Peterson method, when it comes to raptor identification. If you wish to learn raptor identification you will take a course, from a biologist or a naturalist. This is called “ book learning”. Then you will go into the field for about 14 hours any try and find and zero in on some perched raptors, and pray the the hawk does not fly away. Or if it flys away it will fly near your zenith as it departs the area. This is not hawk watching. Well, it is hawk watching, but only 10 per cent of what hawk watching is all about.
If you wish to learn hawk watching you should get to an official hawk watch site, during the last two weeks in September and the first two weeks in October. Plan on spending at least 3 hours each week. After that experience you may be so interested that you can hardly wait for the next migration season.
The modern method of hawking is using the holistic approach. Which means it is a fast and accurate way to identify all of the raptors of the East and of Puget Sound by wing beats, wing holding, wing structure, and with accipiters, one other easy to apply “field mark”. Also the general color of a raptor can be of help to the novice hawk watcher.
This essay is also about why birders and advanced birders are not reporting goshawks. Which boils down to you are stuck. That is your comfort zone. To come out of your comfort zone will take time, effort, energy, and may take years. One reason for staying in your comfort zone is that you know the end result of the effort and time it will take to understand a new discipline. I say— most birders are not hawk watchers and never will become hawk watchers. It is too much of another discipline, too much of a leap of faith.
About you— you know the end result because of what you have read, or misread, or was not published in a completely accurate way. Also because of what you have heard— The Spiel. If you would dig a little deeper than what the field guide presents— you will read— accipiter identification is not difficult. Separating a Cooper’s Hawk from a Sharp- shinned Hawk is not difficult. And this I just read— it is easier to identify accipiters in flight than when they are perched. And I agree with that concept. And it is also a faster approach toward identification. This is part 1. NB.
The Thought:When you go to a Chinese Restaurant you should ask— Are the bats wild or are they farm-raised. Seriously.
A birder becomes stuck when using the old method, the passive method, the Peterson method, when it comes to raptor identification. If you wish to learn raptor identification you will take a course, from a biologist or a naturalist. This is called “ book learning”. Then you will go into the field for about 14 hours any try and find and zero in on some perched raptors, and pray the the hawk does not fly away. Or if it flys away it will fly near your zenith as it departs the area. This is not hawk watching. Well, it is hawk watching, but only 10 per cent of what hawk watching is all about.
If you wish to learn hawk watching you should get to an official hawk watch site, during the last two weeks in September and the first two weeks in October. Plan on spending at least 3 hours each week. After that experience you may be so interested that you can hardly wait for the next migration season.
The modern method of hawking is using the holistic approach. Which means it is a fast and accurate way to identify all of the raptors of the East and of Puget Sound by wing beats, wing holding, wing structure, and with accipiters, one other easy to apply “field mark”. Also the general color of a raptor can be of help to the novice hawk watcher.
This essay is also about why birders and advanced birders are not reporting goshawks. Which boils down to you are stuck. That is your comfort zone. To come out of your comfort zone will take time, effort, energy, and may take years. One reason for staying in your comfort zone is that you know the end result of the effort and time it will take to understand a new discipline. I say— most birders are not hawk watchers and never will become hawk watchers. It is too much of another discipline, too much of a leap of faith.
About you— you know the end result because of what you have read, or misread, or was not published in a completely accurate way. Also because of what you have heard— The Spiel. If you would dig a little deeper than what the field guide presents— you will read— accipiter identification is not difficult. Separating a Cooper’s Hawk from a Sharp- shinned Hawk is not difficult. And this I just read— it is easier to identify accipiters in flight than when they are perched. And I agree with that concept. And it is also a faster approach toward identification. This is part 1. NB.
The Thought:When you go to a Chinese Restaurant you should ask— Are the bats wild or are they farm-raised. Seriously.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Goshawk in active flight
One goshawk in straight- away flight at 150- 200 feet altitude. Near Mount Erie School - Anacortes. March 25- 2020.
Support your local Chinese Restaurant- Drop off a cat.
Support your local Chinese Restaurant- Drop off a cat.
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