12-23-13 Bird Field Note

12-23-13 Bird Field Note

December 23, 2013

Kate Stone and Eric Rasmussen share insights and images of Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, and Rough-legged Hawks.

Rough-legged Hawk

After five weeks of winter raptor surveys in the northern Bitterroot Valley, Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks again dominate the tallies.

Hawk ER After five weeks of winter raptor surveys in the northern Bitterroot Valley, Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks again dominate the tallies. A sub-development south of MPG Ranch yields few, if any, raptor detections.

ER Most raptors concentrate in less developed agricultural areas. They often tolerate grazing cattle and sit, like this Rough-legged Hawk, in grazed fields.

Another Rough-legged Hawk glides over a field in search of rodents (top). This grazed pasture along the Middle Burnt Fork Road (below) is a hot spot for over-wintering raptors.