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From: dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Sam Conway)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Hawk Count
Message-ID: <1991Feb26.180434.4845@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>
Date: 26 Feb 91 18:04:34 GMT
References: <1991Feb25.192307.13085@athena.mit.edu>
Sender: news@dartvax.dartmouth.edu (The News Manager)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 25

In article <1991Feb25.192307.13085@athena.mit.edu> kim@athena.mit.edu (Kim Carney) writes:
 This weekend I drove ~70 miles from the Mass Pike to Rt 495. I counted
 over 12 Hawks along the highway and in the median. This is
 about 1 bird per 5 miles. 
 
 I was very surprised at the number. Is this unusual? I was driving
 about 1-1.5 hours before sunset.


Not at all unusual!  Very likely they were red-tailed hawks; you're a bit
far north to see any other buteos (except rough-legs) at this time of
year.

Hawks love highways!  A highway is the modern-day equivalent of a
big open field.  It's the perfect hunting ground:  absolutely no cover,
a nice neutral color, broad and flat.  Unfortunately, this doesn't
come without a price; fully 40% of all the injured hawks I see are
hit by cars.


-- 
Sam Conway                             * What shape do you usually have?
dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu           * Mickey Mouse shape?  Smarties
Chemistry Dept., Dartmouth College, NH * shape?  Amphibious landing craft
Vermont Raptor Center (VINS)           * shape?  Poke in the eye shape?