CHARLOTTE, Vt. -
Craig Newman from Outreach for Earth Stewardship explains why people should not have hawks in captivity.
"These were birds that were either found dead or died at some point during the rehab process. We have a scientific collections permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as well as the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife to possess bird parts. There are three basic families of hawks that we're looking for," he explained.
"What's the one you have here?" asked reporter Cat Viglienzoni.
"The one I have here is a Cooper's Hawk. They're the woodland hawks and they make a living by hunting birds," said Newman as he held a hawk.
"So where would one find those particular types of hawks?" inquired Viglienzoni.
During most of the year they're going to be in the wooded areas or perhaps at your backyard bird feeder. The special adaptation of these wings are short and stubby that allows them to fly between branches and trees and they can actually maneuver quite quickly. Kind of like the sports cars of the bird world. But during migration they're heading to warmer climates, so if you look overhead and you see birds with short stubby wings and a really long tail, those are acceptors," replied Newman.
"And so what do I have here in my hand, the small one?" asked Viglienzoni.
CN: The small one is actually a middle-sized falcon. And this is a merlin wing. What we're looking for when we're hawk-watching overhead is this pointy shape 1633 And this wing is designed for speed 1637 The falcon's hunting strategy is to surprise their prey from above, like the peregrine falcon. The third shape wing is the buteos, or soaring hawks like the red-tails, rough legs, broad wings they all have these wide wings and long wings. It's very well designed for catching thermals that come underneath and riding them above and hunting by soaring overhead. You don't have to wait until migration time to see them. But the numbers are definitely higher during the migration season," said Newman.
"And obviously then people who are out bird-watching can look for these shapes, and are they pretty easy to distinguish from kind-of far away? asked Viglienzoni.
"They are. Just the silhouette. And if you look for just those three basic shapes. Pointy wings, the shorter, stubby wings, coupled with a really long tail, and the really broad, long wings of the buteos, those are the three basic families," explained Newman.
"So people if they really want can get really into it or just have a basic knowledge?" asked Viglienzoni.
"You can get as detailed as you want. But just being out and enjoying the hawks and being outdoors.That's the fun of it - just seeing them," replied Newman.
