Is this a Hawk with a radio tracker?
Aug 28, 2012 15:56:50 #
If you download, you can see something sticking out of it's tail. What is it. I see he is banded, but can't figure what that stick is. He kind of crash landed on my screen porch the other night and sat there for quite some time.
Aug 28, 2012 15:59:37 #
Aug 28, 2012 16:26:04 #
Chuy
Loc: OUT OF TOWN
MT Shooter wrote:
Its not a radio tracker, but it is an ID band.
MT look closer.Black band around left leg and that sure is a strange tail feather.
Aug 28, 2012 16:31:31 #
Looks like a young Red-tailed Hawk with US Federal band on his right leg, and I believe you are correct in thinking he has some kind of antenna under his tail.
Aug 28, 2012 16:34:59 #
I appologize, I had only downloaded the second pic. The radio transmitter is clearly visible on the hawks left leg in the first photo.
Aug 28, 2012 16:39:46 #
Aug 28, 2012 17:41:04 #
Coolcameragirl wrote:
If you download, you can see something sticking out of it's tail. What is it. I see he is banded, but can't figure what that stick is. He kind of crash landed on my screen porch the other night and sat there for quite some time.
Great shots Coolcameragirl. Looks to be both banded and has a tracker attached.
Aug 28, 2012 18:32:43 #
Coolcameragirl wrote:
If you download, you can see something sticking out of it's tail. What is it. I see he is banded, but can't figure what that stick is. He kind of crash landed on my screen porch the other night and sat there for quite some time.
Its a very beautiful bird. You captured it well.
Aug 28, 2012 18:35:40 #
Coolcameragirl,
My name is Jimmy Huddleston and I am a wildlife biologist as well as an amateur photographer. As a biologist, I deal with gallinaceous (ground feeding) birds and have attached many leg bands and radio transmitters. The black antenna that you are seeing is in fact attached to a radio transmitter. It is more than likely attached either around the birds neck and hidden under the feathers (this aids in not only securing the transmitter, but also helps prevent interference with mate selection during the breeding season), or it is attached to the raptors back in one of a number of varoius methods. With this being a migratory raptor, I would assume that the transmitter also contains a GPS beacon that allows the biologists to track this bird over long distances as well. The green band on the left leg is for "quick" identification in the field when performing routine checks of the raptor, and the silver aluminum band is stamped with numbers that allow biologists to look up all technical data that was gathered from the bird when it was trapped an processed for research. This data includes stuff like the trap dates, bird weight, trap location, etc.
I do believe this to be a Red-tailed hawk as richardh76 stated, but raptors are some of the most difficult birds to identify solidly.
I do want to say that this is a great picture! Keep up the good work!
My name is Jimmy Huddleston and I am a wildlife biologist as well as an amateur photographer. As a biologist, I deal with gallinaceous (ground feeding) birds and have attached many leg bands and radio transmitters. The black antenna that you are seeing is in fact attached to a radio transmitter. It is more than likely attached either around the birds neck and hidden under the feathers (this aids in not only securing the transmitter, but also helps prevent interference with mate selection during the breeding season), or it is attached to the raptors back in one of a number of varoius methods. With this being a migratory raptor, I would assume that the transmitter also contains a GPS beacon that allows the biologists to track this bird over long distances as well. The green band on the left leg is for "quick" identification in the field when performing routine checks of the raptor, and the silver aluminum band is stamped with numbers that allow biologists to look up all technical data that was gathered from the bird when it was trapped an processed for research. This data includes stuff like the trap dates, bird weight, trap location, etc.
I do believe this to be a Red-tailed hawk as richardh76 stated, but raptors are some of the most difficult birds to identify solidly.
I do want to say that this is a great picture! Keep up the good work!
Aug 28, 2012 23:18:24 #
Squirrel wrote:
Coolcameragirl, br My name is Jimmy Huddleston and... (show quote)
Wow, thanks for that information, Jimmy. So I guess it doesn't bother him? I though he was hurt. After 1/2 hour, I went into the house to call a friend to ask who I would call if he didn't move and by the time I got back out he was gone.
Aug 28, 2012 23:21:43 #
Aug 29, 2012 09:14:51 #
No ma'am, it doesn't bother him at all after the first day or so. I guess kind of like me wearing a watch, I don;t think about it till i look at the time. They perch for long periods watching the ground for movement by rodents and such, then they swoop down and grab something to eat. This is typical behavior of birds in the Buteo family. Thank you for sharing that photo, it is nice to see such beautiful birds up close without having to worry about being footed by the talons.
Aug 29, 2012 18:20:08 #
Aug 29, 2012 21:13:02 #
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