Here are some I-5 corridor counts I have made in the past few
years from Portland to Cottage Grove. As can be seen, Red-tails
and kestrels outnumber all other species by considerable amounts.
Bald Eagles are most regularly encount in the sheep fields of
Linn Co.

Dec Dec Dec Feb Dec
1991 1994 1997 1999 1999
Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 1 1
Red-tailed Hawk 23 32 34 60 20
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Northern Harrier 1 3
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1 5 2
Golden Eagle 1
American Kestrel 14 13 20 17 11


Chris S wrote:
>
> Greetings,
>
> I've been driving down to Eugene from Seattle a lot since September, and
> I always count the hawks I see going both ways. Because of location,
> and size (although size still gives me problems, especially since I am
> usually traveling close to 70 MPH), I assume that most of the sitting
> hawks are red-tails. I did see two kestrels yesterday on my way back
> from Eugene. I have been formulating several questions, and thought I
> would post them to Tweeters--I learn so much by reading the posted info.
>
> 1] Besides red-tails (and in the summer, Turkey Vultures), are there
> other hawks about the same size as red-tails that would be perched on
> fence posts or in trees along side the freeway?
> 2] It appears to me that red-tails are in the air much less in the
> winter-time than in the summer. Is this really true?
> 3] If it is true, is it due to the fact that there are less thermals in
> the winter-time; or is there some other reason for the change in
> habit--could the prey be hiding differently due to reduced protection
> from overhead foliage and thereby requiring the hawks to be closer to
> the ground to find their prey?
> 4] Does anyone know how often a red-tail feeds if food is available?
> How often does it have to feed in order to survive? When it is raining
> hard for 5-7 days in a row, and the hawk is wet (and probably cold) how
> threatening to its health is this?
> 5] What is the average life span of a red-tail?
>
> A lover of birds, especially raptors,
>
> Chris Southwick
> Seattle,Wa
> chriss at micronics.net

--
Mike Patterson Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo,
Astoria, OR it is not enough to be persecuted
celata at pacifier.com by an unkind establishment,
you must also be right.
---Robert Park
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