Species Account Sharp-Shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Adam M. House Due: June 15, 2015 Dr. Yunger Of the North American Accipiters, the Sharp-Shinned Hawk is the smallest. This does not indicate a lack of predatory instinct. Sharp-Shinned Hawks, or Sharpies, are one of, if not the most stealthiest of raptor. The text contained within highlights not only the stealthiness of this raptor, but also its breeding, feeding, migration, conservation, habitat, and overall behavior. Sharpies are about the size of a blue-jay and inhabit the forest regions all over the North American continent. Although small, the males generally are about a third smaller than females. They are only seen during migration periods due to their favorability of dense forests. However, when they are migrating, they are one of the most common sightings along coastline and even inland birding sights. They also tend to find backyard bird feeders and feed on the songbirds. Due to this occurrence, many people find Sharpies as a nuisance and annoyance. …show more content…
Sharpies exhibit different plumages at adult and juvenile stages.
“Adults have blue-gray upper parts and white underparts with rufous barring. They also have whitish throats, an alternately dark- and light-gray banded tail, and orange or red eyes” (hawkmountain.org). They are a challenge for birders to identify due to their resemblance to Cooper’s Hawks. However, they do show signs of a crisper and more rapid flight pattern and Cooper’s Hawks are bigger and more
robust. Determining the breeding habits of Sharpies can be challenging because they breed in dense forests on branches close to trunks of trees with a nest made out of twigs, bark and greenery. When nesting, the female stays with the eggs or hatchlings and it is the responsibility of the male to bring food. Although both male and females bring nesting material to the site, females contribute most, if not all, of the construction of the nest. Nests are usually one to two feet in diameter and about four to six inches in depth. When brooding is no longer necessary, the female will share this responsibility. The trip to the Keweenaw provided data to show that sharpies were more inland in valleys, close to dense forests, moving in various directions. Once fledglings are of age, the mother begins to feed them less to inspire the young to hunt on their own. The timing is also great for when the fledglings reach this age, it coincides with the fledgling of songbirds and allow for easier prey to practice on. Sharp-shinned Hawks are have exceptional speed and agility and hunt their prey by utilizing surprise tactics, using nature as concealment when necessary. They also tend to give up quickly at failed attempts to catch prey. When they are successful, they tend to find a plucking perch near the nest to pluck the feathers before they consume. They have a diet consisting of about 90 percent songbirds, while the other ten percent is comprised of small mammals, frogs, and insects. “Studies report quail, shorebirds, doves, swifts, woodpeckers, and even falcons as prey” (allaboutbirds.org). Bird feeders are also great places for sharpies to frequent for their abundance of this prey. “These Hawks are one of 26 North American raptors that are partial migrants. Some populations are migratory whereas others are not, and as a result there is overlap between non-breeding and breeding ranges” (hawkmountain.org). Sharpies take advantage of atmospheric conditions by utilizing thermals and mountain updrafts. They migrate by using coastlines and mountain ranges to lead them in the right direction. When faced with large bodies of water, they will reverse direction and try to find a way around obstacles. Ridges provide enough wind deflection to produce drafts to allow Sharpies to soar and reduce energy expenditure. Their flight patterns are a mix of powered and soaring behaviors. It is not known why, but juveniles take a separate migration path than to adults. Juveniles tend to stick to coastline whereas some juveniles and adults venture toward inland routes. “One hypothesis proposed to explain differential migration suggests that larger, dominant individuals migrate shorter distances because they will dominate resources and force subordinate individuals to fly farther distances. Because migration is energetically expensive, traveling farther than necessary is of no benefit. This social-dominance hypothesis may explain why juveniles and males migrate longer distances” (hawkmountain.org). Through the 1940s to 1970s, populations decreased due to the usage of the pesticide DDT. These numbers began to increase but then decreased again in the 1990s. “Plausible explanations for the declines included the possibility of pesticide contamination, loss of forest habitat, and acid precipitation” (hawkmountain.org). Sharp-Shinned Hawks love the close canopy of a forest nesting high atop the trees, but still under canopy. They only venture out into open fields when migrating. “While favoring forests that contain conifers, they also nest in stands of aspen in Colorado, oak-hickory forest in Missouri, and the hardwood forests of the East” (allaboutbirds.org). They can also range from high mountain elevations with good forestry and low sea level perches. “Sharp-shinned Hawk numbers appear to have remained stable from 1966 to 2010, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey” (allaboutbirds.org). It is difficult to monitor the populations of these raptors due to their secretiveness in forests, but it is true that their numbers correlate to the health of our forests. They were also greatly affected by the use of the pesticide DDT and even to this day have been seen with large quantities of DDT in their systems due to South America’s continued use. They also frequent bird feeders which has helped and harmed them. In one sense, it has helped them because it enabled them to fly further north, whereas, it is hurt their numbers due to humans seeing them as vermin and shooting them when they appear. Humans need to realize that if they start seeing Sharpies around their bird feeders, they need only to stop feeding songbirds for a couple days and the hawk will move on, and return to regular feeding to allow songbirds to return. Sharp-Shinned Hawks provide a natural wonder for the adaptability of a species to be a more efficient and quick hunter. They are also a species that has the knack for escaping danger in dense forests and high atop trees. The continued research of the Sharpie and raptors in general is important for the implication of overall ecosystem health.
Thesis Statement: Mary Aprarico Castrejon’s essay “The Fighter Bird” reveals her family’s poor living situation and the grit which members of her family, like herself and her papi, have despite of their situation.
Dog has been “man’s best friend” for ages. Around Franklin County, almost everyone owns a dog. Since many owners are farmers, people in the Franklin County area need a dog who will be loyal, can herd livestock if need be, and is obedient to its master. The best breed of dog that fits this description is the Blue Heeler, also known as the Australian Cattle Dog. Though these dogs are better suited for the rural areas, many people in the city own them as well. Sprightly yet independent, the Australian Cattle Dogs are great companions for single people and families alike. Blue Heelers are the all-around best breed of dog in Franklin County.
The sabertooth cat, also known by its scientific name Smilodon Fatalis, is considered a true form fossil. A fossil is considered a true form fossil when scientists recover fossils of the actual animal or animal part. These bones were oftentimes subjected to physical processes while still on the surface. These processes include heat, cold, wind and rain.
The population of the whooping cranes most definitely gets affected from precipitation, because the population gets affected negatively with high precipitation levels present, while positively with low precipitation levels. The population of the whooping cranes gets affected this way because if there were high precipitation levels for a year, the hatching success rate drastically decreases from the precipitation, who damages the eggs laid by the cranes. By either breaking the eggs, making the cranes not be present to incubate their eggs, or actually destroying the birds’ nests. Also, the high precipitation levels may even cause a few fatalities, which is a very serious problem involving this particular endangered species. While with low precipitation
Reading the autobiography of Chief Black Hawk made me realize how giving the Sac tribe actually was compared to as they call it the whites. The Sac Tribe was based on peace and spiritual lifestyle. They were not all for themselves none of them were. If someone they knew didn’t have what they needed but they did, they wouldn’t hesitate to share. That is how all communities should be but unfortunately we aren’t all as giving as the Sac. They were such good people, which make me wonder why the whites were so devious towards them. They could trick them into agreeing to something without even knowing it. The Sacs had great crops so no one in their village went hungry and they made sure of it. All of them hunted even the women which gave them plenty of meat, fruits, and vegetables until the next time to hunt. This village was full of very happy people. They had everything they needed to survive and they were all so close, and they all helped each other out and had each other’s backs at the end of the day. If I had to choose a tribe to be in I would go to the Sac tribe just from reading this autobiography.
Of the birds of Arizona, the cactus wren is likely to be the most well known, as it is the state bird. The cactus wren is a very vocal bird with the white eye stripes behind each of it’s eyes. Its breast is heavily flecked with dark brown and black, whilst its tail feathers alternate between black, brown and white. Its beak also has a faint curve to it. The cactus wren makes its home in a variety of desert environments, most commonly in the foothills with all manner of scrub such as yucca, mesquite, and its namesake, cactus. One of the most numerous birds of the city is quail who tend to live in washes and bushes as they are often too heavily weighted to fly far off the ground or for long distances. The Northern mockingbird also
In conclusion, owls have shown they are excellent at adapting to any environment by the ability to fly silently to stalk prey. They use camouflaged and insulated feathers to hide and keep warm while hunting. Owl’s excellent binocular vision, and hearing helps to track prey from long distances. The only real risk of extinction of the burrowing owl is if people continue to kill off animals that dig holes for them. They have shown the ability to survive for a long time with the help of other animals digging holes for them. Owl’s will continue to evolve long after humans have
“200 years ago, there was around 16 million greater sage grouse; Today there may be fewer than 200,000” (Dantzker and Swartwout). The Greater Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a magnificent bird that only lives in the Sagebrush-steppe habitat. This habitat is seen in the western part of the United States and also some area of North and South America. From the study above, it should be obvious that the greater sage grouse were considered endangered by Fish and Wildlife Organizations. However, on September 30th, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Organization removed the sage grouse from the endangered “candidates” list, and stated that they would enforce plans to help the conservation of these birds. People should be aware that this is
Crowfoot was a Blackfoot chief in 1830, by the Belly River in now southern Alberta. He was born in the Blood tribe of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which at the time also included the Blackfoot and Piegan tribes. As a baby he was given the name Astohkomi (Shot Close) When he was five his father was killed by Crow warriors and within a year Crowfoot’s mother married Akay-nehka-simi (Many Names), a member of the Blackfoot tribe. When Crowfoot was a teen he was trained as a warrior, During a raid for horses on a Crow camp, he was wounded in the fight, for which he was given his adult name Isapo-muxika (Crowfoot), a name that had been owned by a relative killed several years earlier.
So the famous person I chose is Harry Hawk. He is an actor and a comedian. He is mostly known for his acting career. Harry Hawk was born on April 28, 1837. He died at the age of 79 and on May 28, 1916. He is mainly know for Lincoln's assassination. So I will be telling you more about Harry Hawks life.
If you have never had the displeasure of hearing a sandhill crane, the only description of their cry I can conjure up is, like a land dolphin. Land dolphin? Yes, their piercing sound, that strangely resembles a dolphin, can travel up to two and a half miles and unfortunately right through the brick walls of my house in Palm Coast, Florida. Palm Coast is one of the five municipalities that comprise Flagler county. The sandhill cranes have been a nuisance to Flagler County since its founding in 1917.
White-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail, is native to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. What are the things called antlers and what are they made of? Deer antlers are made of bone. They grow from pedicles, bony bumps found on the heads of all deer, and they drop off after the mating season ends.
The White Heron is a spiritual story portraying great refinement and concerns with higher things in life. A 9 year old girl once isolated in the city found fulfillment in a farm surrounded by nature. Too those less unfortunate, money charm and other attractions can be intoxicated; Sylvia did not bite. She could have helped her situation and found a way to wealth but in the end she realized that it wouldn’t help her to be the person she wanted to be. This paper will illustrate a critical analysis of the story of White Heron and focus on the relationship between the literary elements of the story, plot, characterization, style, symbolism and women’s concerns that are specific to this period.
Audubon North American Birdfeeder Guide (Rev. ed., p. 150). New York: DK. & Co., Inc. Eastman, J. (1997).14-Crow and Jay Family (Corvidae). Birds of the forest, yard, and thicket. (pp. 127- 145).
called this falcon a duck hawk. That was a poor name, since falcons aren't hawks and they