Birds of Prey Soar Over Mashantucket By Shelley Spohr Ms. Spohr is a wildlife biologist for the Mashantucket Pequot Natural Resource Protection Department. Birds of prey, also called raptors, include eagles, hawks and owls. They are the subject of the current special exhibit Hunters of the Sky in the Mashantucket Gallery through September 1, 2003. These birds are distinguished by their hooked bills and strong talons that enable them to catch and eat prey such as rodents, snakes and smaller birds. Because raptors primarily eat rodents and insects, they are beneficial to have around. HAWKS Hawks have the best eyesight of any animal; they can see farther and eight times more clearly than humans. They also have excellent hearing. Hawks are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Female hawks are usually larger than males and pairs often mate for life, returning to the same nesting area each year. Three hawk species in Connecticut are forest dwellers – the sharp-shinned hawk, the Cooper’s hawk, and the goshawk. Sharp-shinned hawks (nicknamed “sharpies”) eat birds, mice, bats, frogs, and insects. Large numbers of sharpies pass through southern New England in the fall on their way to the southeastern United States and Central America for the winter. However, some individuals remain in Connecticut for the winter and may attack birds at backyard feeders. Sharpies nest in Connecticut in April and May in young, mixed forests. A decline in the population of sharp-shinned hawks in the 1970s was a result of pesticide contamination of their prey. Today, loss of habitat is to blame for low numbers and consequently the sharp-shinned hawk is listed as state endangered.  The Cooper’s hawk looks similar to the sharp-shinned hawk but it is larger and has a rounded tail, compared to the sharpies’ flat-edged tail. They primarily eat birds and small mammals and will also attack birds at feeders. Early settlers and farmers called the species “chicken hawks” because of their fondness for poultry. Cooper’s hawks, which migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter, were over-hunted in the 1800s and in the last century and their decline was accelerated during the 1970s by DDT poisoning that caused eggshell thinning. Because of these factors the species is listed as threatened in Connecticut. The Northern goshawk is a large hawk of dense woodlands that eats rabbits, squirrels, and birds. Known for their aggressive defense of their territory, they will actually dive bomb people walking under their nests and have been known to draw blood with their talons. Mashantucket has been fortunate to play host to a pair of goshawks that has nested the past several years on tribal land.  Connecticut is also home to several species of soaring hawks. Red-tailed hawks, which are a common site throughout Connecticut and can be identified by their red tails (although there is great individual variation in plumage), are generalists, subsisting on small rodents, rabbits, and snakes. They prefer open woodlands or fields. Red-shouldered hawks are not as common as red-tails and are listed as a species of special concern in the state. They search for their prey while soaring over woodlands or perched on a tree, and once they locate prey, they dive onto it. Red-shouldered hawks often migrate south for the winter and return to nest in the spring. Like most hawks, they build a nest of sticks high in the crotch of large trees and can often be located by looking for these nests. Broad-winged hawks are smaller than the previous two species, and because of this size difference, they are able to utilize different habitat types (e.g. dense deciduous or mixed woodlands). Broad-winged hawks are migratory and travel south for the winter. The Northern harrier is listed as endangered in Connecticut because no nesting activity has been recorded here. However, harriers can be seen occasionally around Mashantucket patrolling the corn fields, soaring low to the ground, identifiable by the prominent white patch on their rump. A grassland raptor, it nests on the ground in wet meadows. Osprey are large hawks that are often thought to be associated with the coast but can also be found around inland waterways. Called “fish hawks” and common worldwide, they eat mostly fish, returning to Connecticut each spring after flying south for the winter. You can often find osprey nesting on the top of dead trees, utility poles and artificial nest platforms. As recently as 1974 there were only about 9 known osprey nests in the state. Today the numbers are much higher and osprey are rebounding thanks to the ban on the pesticide DDT and efforts by conservation groups and agencies. The American kestrel is Connecticut’s smallest and most colorful falcon. Kestrels hunt by hovering over a spot and swooping down on prey, which usually consists of insects in the summer and small vertebrates in the winter. Kestrels nest in tree cavities and will use nest boxes. The corn fields in Preston are excellent places to watch kestrels in action. These birds, however, are uncommon and are listed as a state species of special concern.  OWLS Unlike hawks, owls are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. Contrary to popular belief, owls can not turn their heads all the way around, but rather only three-quarters, giving the illusion of a full turn. Owls have the best hearing of all birds and use this skill to locate food. Their wide wings, lightweight bodies, and soft, fluffy feathers allow them to fly silently through the forest. Owls eat their entire kill – indigestible parts are regurgitated as pellets of hair, bones, beaks and teeth. The Northern saw-whet owl is Connecticut’s smallest, weighing about three ounces. Saw-whets are highly migratory and are listed as a species of special concern.  They are very difficult to observe and may be identified during the breeding season of March through May by their monotonous electronic sounding whistle. Another small local owl is the Eastern screech owl, which despite its name doesn’t actually screech (the barn owl does, however). Instead, this species, which is about eight inches tall and nests in tree cavities or nest boxes, makes a horse-like whinnying. Barred owls can often be heard locally when they make their distinctive “Who cooks for you?” call. The barred owl is a woodland species that will nest in tree cavities or in old crow or hawk nests. The great-horned owl is Connecticut’s largest owl and is so aggressive it will drive other owls out of its territory. It is also one of the few predators that can kill a porcupine – or will kill a skunk. The species can be identified by its large size and the feather tufts on top of its head that look like ears. Barn owls prefer fields and meadows, and they are often associated with old farms. Some barn owls migrate for the winter while others stay in Connecticut. The loss of farmland and fields in New England and the use of rodent poison has resulted in the sharp decline of the species, which is listed as endangered here. Two other species of owl can be seen in Connecticut but are uncommon – the short-eared owl and long-eared owl.  The former prefers grasslands and wetland meadows whereas the latter utilizes deep, unbroken forest. Due to the loss of such habitat types, these species only winter in the state. The short-eared owl is listed as threatened and the long-eared as endangered in Connecticut. A third species, the snowy owl, occasionally winters in the state when its normal food becomes scarce in its arctic range. Connecticut is fortunate to play host to such a variety of raptors. Unfortunately, as habitat is lost due to development, these species become less common. Preservation of open space is important to ensure the existence of these magnificent creatures in Connecticut. With adequate protection, future generations will be able to observe and enjoy these unique avian predators.