Monday, June 2, 2008
definition of abbreviations
NG= Northern Goshawk; F= flapping; G=gliding; S=soaring; RVP= Voyager RV Park, just outside city limits of Tucson; RT10 and S. Kolb Rd.; EOB=elevation of bird; OT=observation time
4 winters of NG tucson
I have lived with NG inTucson for 4 winters, starting in 2000-01. In 2007-08, I had 44 daily-sightings of NG during my 6 month (minus 9 days in Washington state) visit. During those 6 months I observed 5 sets of doubles! 2 of the sets were females, and 2 sets were male and female. 1 set was not sexed or aged, since I was chasing the birds and trying to work with camera in order to get photographs. All the photographs were taken by me, except for the 1 photo by Bert Jackson, and I was witness to that photographing. In winter, NG in Tucson, and just out side of city limits are a common species, and are "readily available for observation". Please note: I am referring to raptors in flight, not perched raptors.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
set type remarkability in Goshawks
These are the areas and dates of my sightings of what I call "Goshawks with expressed recessive genes": The chest, belly, and under wing coverts are of red vermiculation. All sightings were of the bird in flight.
Tucson - winter 2000-01; Costco parking lot (on Grant). The lighting conditions were excellent. The bird - mature female - was over head at about 100 feet. The bird had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts.
Rockport, Texas - winter 2002-03; I had many sightings of the same mature, "long winged", dark-grey dorsal area, female Goshawk. I observed this bird over a 4 month period. This bird had red-orange vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts.
Anacortes, Washington - February 2005; Pioneer Trails RV Park; 1 mature female Goshawk (over head) at about 300 feet elevation; excellent lighting conditions. I have spent over 18 months in that area, and have yet to see that bird again.
Tucson - 4 December, 2005; Voyager RV Resort, Rt10 and S. Kolb Rd.
1 mature female Goshawk.
Anacortes, Washington - 18 April, 2007; Pioneer Trails RV Park;
1 mature male Goshawk; bright sun reflected off the red ventral areas.
Goodyear, Arizona - 14 October, 2007; Destiny RV Park; 1 mature male Goshawk was ripping up the sky. I know of only 2 species that can rip up the sky - a Merlin and a male Goshawk.
Tucson - 5 February, 2008; Wal-mart parking lot - Kolb Rd. and Speedway: 1 mature Goshawk; this bird had red vermiculation on chest and belly. The under wing did not appear to have any red.
Tucson - 2008 - Rt10 and S. Kolb Rd.; 6 and 8 February; 8 and 30 March; mature female Goshawk.
Note: In November 2006, I had a brief meeting with 3 biologists from Department of Arizona Game and Fish. Michael Ingraldi, Ph.D. (research biologist) told me - while at a Goshawk nest in Heber, Arizona, he had tried to trap a mature female Goshawk. The bird could not be trapped. The bird had a red chest and belly!
On 2 occasions in Rockport, Texas, Wilson J. Tarkington was with me as we witnessed the remarkable mature Goshawk of Rockport. Mr. Tarkington can identify Peregrine Falcons in flight , naked-eye. But, he had had no experiences with Northern Goshawks. Capt. W. Jay Tarkington, M.S. - Aquatic Education Program Director; Texas AM University - Corpus Christi.
Tucson - winter 2000-01; Costco parking lot (on Grant). The lighting conditions were excellent. The bird - mature female - was over head at about 100 feet. The bird had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts.
Rockport, Texas - winter 2002-03; I had many sightings of the same mature, "long winged", dark-grey dorsal area, female Goshawk. I observed this bird over a 4 month period. This bird had red-orange vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts.
Anacortes, Washington - February 2005; Pioneer Trails RV Park; 1 mature female Goshawk (over head) at about 300 feet elevation; excellent lighting conditions. I have spent over 18 months in that area, and have yet to see that bird again.
Tucson - 4 December, 2005; Voyager RV Resort, Rt10 and S. Kolb Rd.
1 mature female Goshawk.
Anacortes, Washington - 18 April, 2007; Pioneer Trails RV Park;
1 mature male Goshawk; bright sun reflected off the red ventral areas.
Goodyear, Arizona - 14 October, 2007; Destiny RV Park; 1 mature male Goshawk was ripping up the sky. I know of only 2 species that can rip up the sky - a Merlin and a male Goshawk.
Tucson - 5 February, 2008; Wal-mart parking lot - Kolb Rd. and Speedway: 1 mature Goshawk; this bird had red vermiculation on chest and belly. The under wing did not appear to have any red.
Tucson - 2008 - Rt10 and S. Kolb Rd.; 6 and 8 February; 8 and 30 March; mature female Goshawk.
Note: In November 2006, I had a brief meeting with 3 biologists from Department of Arizona Game and Fish. Michael Ingraldi, Ph.D. (research biologist) told me - while at a Goshawk nest in Heber, Arizona, he had tried to trap a mature female Goshawk. The bird could not be trapped. The bird had a red chest and belly!
On 2 occasions in Rockport, Texas, Wilson J. Tarkington was with me as we witnessed the remarkable mature Goshawk of Rockport. Mr. Tarkington can identify Peregrine Falcons in flight , naked-eye. But, he had had no experiences with Northern Goshawks. Capt. W. Jay Tarkington, M.S. - Aquatic Education Program Director; Texas AM University - Corpus Christi.
some notes of the photos
The (3) photos of 6 February were sent to AZFO with my report of "Goshawks with expressed recessive genes".
The 1 photo - 16 February has 3 complimentary photos: male NG
The bird photographed on 8 March had a male companion. The female was also glassed - and had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. There is another photo to compliment the 2 photographs presented.
Bert Jackson is a photographer and Audubon member. The photograph of 10 march is a good photograph. The bird is past the ideal viewing position. The most pleasing and informative position to observe raptors is when the bird is over head and slightly past your position. Bert's photograph shows the long accipiter tail. The wind tips are pointed and show the typical large arm, small hand configuration. 2 "S" shapes can be seen; from the front or the rear - and from the dorsal or ventral view. If you were viewing from the side you would observe the third "S" shape. The broadside view would show the wing as an air foil or as an aircraft wing cross section. The 3 "S" shapes can become more prominent as the speed of the air over the wing increases. Also notice the sharp, clean outline of the wings, and that the wings have no dihedral.
The 30 March photo has a companion photo, that shows the NG in a soar-glide. As typical, there is no dihedral, and the wing's leading edge is straight across. I have many photographs of NG with the leading edge of wings straight across. Many field guides state that Cooper's Hawks can present with the leading edge of wings straight across - but Goshawks do not. Those field guides are not presenting proper information.
The 1 photo - 16 February has 3 complimentary photos: male NG
The bird photographed on 8 March had a male companion. The female was also glassed - and had red vermiculation on chest, belly, and under wing coverts. There is another photo to compliment the 2 photographs presented.
Bert Jackson is a photographer and Audubon member. The photograph of 10 march is a good photograph. The bird is past the ideal viewing position. The most pleasing and informative position to observe raptors is when the bird is over head and slightly past your position. Bert's photograph shows the long accipiter tail. The wind tips are pointed and show the typical large arm, small hand configuration. 2 "S" shapes can be seen; from the front or the rear - and from the dorsal or ventral view. If you were viewing from the side you would observe the third "S" shape. The broadside view would show the wing as an air foil or as an aircraft wing cross section. The 3 "S" shapes can become more prominent as the speed of the air over the wing increases. Also notice the sharp, clean outline of the wings, and that the wings have no dihedral.
The 30 March photo has a companion photo, that shows the NG in a soar-glide. As typical, there is no dihedral, and the wing's leading edge is straight across. I have many photographs of NG with the leading edge of wings straight across. Many field guides state that Cooper's Hawks can present with the leading edge of wings straight across - but Goshawks do not. Those field guides are not presenting proper information.
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