Thanks Tom! It is seeming more likely to be a 2nd yr. Red-tailed. It did also
occur to me that that it could be carrying an egret, but looking at the images
i think it is most likely a plastic bag. Perhaps non intentional, just caught
on its leg for a moment. That is interesting about the Kingbirds & Raven.
Thanks Pam! If the bird is a Red-tailed & healthy i think a plastic bag is no
match for it :)
good birding all!!!
- Tracy Chiconas
Mil. Co.
tchiconas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Saturday, April 25, 2020, 5:05:35 PM PDT, Hyndla Kensdottir
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The plastic bag entrapment means death to this individual unless it can free
itself or receives help from humans. I wonder how common this is.
Pam SkaarMadison
On Saturday, April 25, 2020, 12:38:47 PM CDT, Thomas Erdman
<erdt4@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I believe it to be a second year Red-tailed Hawk which is in expected primary
molt as indicated in first two photos. It has both expected patagial and wrist
marks visible in third photo. It is either carrying or entangled in a plastic
bag. The gyrating flight may have been an attempt to free itself. This bird
could not have carried an opossum of this size, and we only have Norway rats in
Wisconsin which look quite different. Red-tails down there are sitting on eggs
by now. A second year female could breed, but males probably not. The only
plastic I've seen in a Red-tail nest were thin strips. I've also found
Kingbirds using plastic strips when they can't find a snake skin. Had a Raven
nest which used the Pink Panther fiberglass insulation instead of the typical
deer hair for a lining. Apparently stole it from a cabin with a snow collapsed
roof.
Tom Erdman, Oconto WI
-----Original Message-----
From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of tracy chiconas
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 2:04 PM
To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wisb] Re: hawk ID help please
Thanks Pam! I hear you about the dark tail!
Thanks Marcia!
Thanks Steve! For a moment i was thinking Harrier also. I am leaning most
towards a Swanson's Hawk. If anyone has experience ID-ing one, i'd love to
hear what you think!
That is interesting Jym. I didn't think of that. I will look into that. Thank
you!
- Tracy Chiconas
Mil. Co.
tchiconas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Friday, April 24, 2020, 11:22:39 AM PDT, Jym Mooney & Carol Lee Hopkins
<hopmoon@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The odd light area at the base of the primaries looks like the annual juvenile
molt of a Broad-tailed Hawk. Obviously, if that is correct, this bird is NOT
carrying anything near so large as an opossum. Just my two cents.
Jym Mooney, Milwaukee
On 4/24/2020 7:46 AM, tracy chiconas (Redacted sender tchiconas for
DMARC) wrote:
good morning :)####################
I have a bird in question that i saw a few days ago. I saw it in the sky
while i was in a car. I quick reached down by my feet to grab my camera out of
my back pack & take a few pics through the windshield. Unfortunately there
were no other birds in that area at that time, therefore no significant size
comparison is available. If one feels confident that it's prey is an opossum,
then that may help; but then again, no real way of knowing the size of the
opossum, except likely an adult by the tail (if that is a tail). I think
perhaps it was loosing its grip on its food. It turned 180 to adjust grip. I
have a pic of it upside down, & also posted a rotated image. In total i was
able to take 4 images before it went below trees & out of sight. I feel
strongly that the bird in question is RETH size or larger; but also it was
some distance away.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S67709520
Any feedback is welcomed & much appreciated!!
Tracy Chiconas
Mil Wi
tchiconas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
