Preparing for Visitors

Seasons greetings from Mid-Ohio, the land of corn and beans. Most of the habitat in my neighborhood is suitable for Horned Larks and the occasional American Kestrel on the wire.
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Currently we have visitors from the north, and I don't mean Santa and his gang. Thanks to two of my conservation inspired neighbors, we have Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls and the occasional Rough-legged Hawk within 2 miles of my house. No wonder I can't get any preparations made for the relatives that will soon be arriving: there are "Roughies" to watch!

Rough-legged Hawk- the tree topper.

My friend Janet Creamer, naturalist in Indianapolis, once laid out an interesting observation for me. When you see hawks perched at 4:00 and 8:00 in tree- look for Red-shouldered hawk. If the bird is in the 10:00 or 2:00 position, you probably have a Red-Tail Hawk. And if the bird is perched high atop (especially on thin looking branches) look close for that possible Rough-legged Hawk.
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There are exceptions, as with any rule, but you might be surprised how often this observation pans out.

My poor photos don't do this bird justice, but its coloring is spectacular. These winter visitors from the arctic tundra compare size-wise to our local Red-tailed Hawks. The Rough-leggeds have slightly longer wings, and yet they weigh a bit less than our locals. These birds are experts at "kiting" effortlessly in the wind and one can nearly imagine a string attached to them as they hover over fields.

Photo by Greg Cornett
My friends Greg and Leslie popped up to see this bird, and captured a few more shots - of much better quality.

Photo by Greg Cornett

And a special thanks to my neighbor with the "Pheasants Forever" field. I suspect he can take a good bit of the credit for this bird hanging around the neighborhood. Although it is only a 2 acres patch, I have seen the Hawk working it faithfully.

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Maybe we can explore some of the botany he has, and why it may be so attractive to this bird. There is also a larger successional field growing nearby, and the combination of these two fellow's efforts is really paying off big time, at least for me!