December 12, 2004
reflections on a Red-shoulderd Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk, Astoria Airport, Clatsop Co., Oregon
I started birding back in 1970 when I was 14. Back then you'd measure the distance between any two Red-shouldered Hawks in years rather than miles. Red-shoulders are now routinely reported in northern Oregon and Southwest Washington. And because I know where to look, I can seen one or two everyday now. They're about 3 miles apart....
Red-shouldered Hawk is not the only species that seems to be moving north. I can remember making multiple trips to Finley NWR in Linn County south of Corvallis in the late 70's trying to find the one White-tailed Kite that had taken up residence there.... and not being able to find it. I saw three today all from one spot. Anna's Hummingbirds have gone from being rare winter visitors to being common year-round residents. There are females nesting on both ends of my block. Black Phoebes are nesting in the Willamette Valley. Tropical Kingbirds have become annual in the fall (one has been eating yellowjackets within walking distance of my house since early November.
Yeah, there's a pattern. Maybe I'll post some graphs.
Posted by mbalame at December 12, 2004 1:44 AM