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Urban Hawk Watching (1 Viewer)

K-day

Member
United States
I have a static hawk watching situation. Hawks perch on tall power towers within view from my house while they scan for prey. Because the Hawks are relatively stationary, I keep a tripod set up next to a window with a 45 degree angle 70mm binocular telescope. The 45 degree eyepiece angle along with a stable platform provide comfortable viewing sessions. The BT is mounted on a fluid head and crank center column. I can follow a hawk when it takes flight, plus adjust BT height quickly for viewing different height towers, or much further downward to the tops of utility poles where Black Head Vultures perch.

The most active watch seasons are, spring when the hawks are hunting to feed their chicks, and early to mid summer when they teach the young ones to hunt from height. In the summer there are also adolescents that just walk around sorrowfully screeching feed me. It's an interesting family dynamic that the adults lead the indigent youngsters to prime feeding ground, then leave them to deal with the hunger thing on their own.

Hawk Watch 1.3.JPG
 
You want to kick it up a notch?? Join up with any local birdwatching club, and/or find a group like e-bird or a hawk migration society and see how you can fit in with the bunch.
I try to count hawks with my posse a few times every fall. Sometimes it is rain and a few vultures, other times it is Eagles, Falcons, and tornados of Hawks. It is fun, and good for science.
Whatever. You are on to something.
 
My back garden seems to be a favourite place where a sparrow hawk likes to feed. It always swoops in via my back gate targeting the little sparrows. Interesting to watch.
 

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