This month's prose truly lifted my spirit, despite the dire message. Your writing is so pleasurable to read that it feels like a drink in the dessert. I appreciate your call to arms. It inspires me. Thank you!
Great messages here, Eric. As birders , and people who love and understand their role as important links between us and the earth, your words empower to take action towards helping them, in even the smallest of ways (like turning lights out). In the end, this is also helping us save ourselves.
I really appreciated reading this a few times. Each reading gave me new insights, I always trek to the local state park to go birding, but the other day a few birds came to the deck outside my home office window offering a nice diversion from my paperwork. Well done, love the suggestions. Always inspired by your passion Eric.
Here in Texas, our Red-tailed Hawks are quite pale underneath, so after the red tail, the next most helpful field marks would be dark patagials (thin dark bands on the leading edge of the wings between the head and the wrist) and a dark belly band (on juveniles). In California, I think you have darker Red-tailed Hawks, which can make the patagial and belly band field marks less conspicuous and harder to rely on. Even so, Red-tailed Hawks generally have streaky brown plumage on their bodies while Red-shouldered Hawks have solid brownish barring. The Red-shouldered Hawks also have black-and-white stripes on their tail and conspicuous pale "commas" near their wingtips. That said, your best clues might be in their structure and behavior. Red-shouldered Hawks have a longer tail and flap more frequently; sometimes their flight can even resemble an accipiter (like a Cooper's Hawk). The Red-shouldered is also very vocal, and its call sounds quite different than the Red-tailed's. You might also consider their different habitats: Red-shouldered prefers woodlands while Red-tailed is seen in more open habitats. Here is a useful side-by-side comparison: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/species-compare/71533441 The book Hawks in Flight is another great guide that emphasizes structural clues and flight style over traditional plumage-based field marks.
You’re the second person that’s suggested the Saving Time book this week! I have too many to read books but I think I’ll add that anyway haha. Thanks for your wisdom!
Hey, Callahan! Thanks so much for reading. Yeah, Jenny Odell is a brilliant writer! I can't recommend her enough. You should also read How to Do Nothing if you haven't!
agree with Cyndy Forbes... great inspiration to me as well. Keep on. Love you. Pete McGee
Thanks so much, Pete! Love to you as well!
This month's prose truly lifted my spirit, despite the dire message. Your writing is so pleasurable to read that it feels like a drink in the dessert. I appreciate your call to arms. It inspires me. Thank you!
Hey, Cyndy! I'm so glad this post gave you the spiritual lift you needed! I think we all could use hope and inspiration these days. Take care!
Great messages here, Eric. As birders , and people who love and understand their role as important links between us and the earth, your words empower to take action towards helping them, in even the smallest of ways (like turning lights out). In the end, this is also helping us save ourselves.
Thanks, Holly! I wholeheartedly agree.
Thanks Eric. I need to be remonded that one step at a time, one day at a time. That is what we can do.
Thanks so much for reading, Celia! I too need reminding of that!
I really appreciated reading this a few times. Each reading gave me new insights, I always trek to the local state park to go birding, but the other day a few birds came to the deck outside my home office window offering a nice diversion from my paperwork. Well done, love the suggestions. Always inspired by your passion Eric.
Spotting a red tail hawk in flight from it undercarriage is difficult to discern from a red shoulder hawk- got any pointers?
Here in Texas, our Red-tailed Hawks are quite pale underneath, so after the red tail, the next most helpful field marks would be dark patagials (thin dark bands on the leading edge of the wings between the head and the wrist) and a dark belly band (on juveniles). In California, I think you have darker Red-tailed Hawks, which can make the patagial and belly band field marks less conspicuous and harder to rely on. Even so, Red-tailed Hawks generally have streaky brown plumage on their bodies while Red-shouldered Hawks have solid brownish barring. The Red-shouldered Hawks also have black-and-white stripes on their tail and conspicuous pale "commas" near their wingtips. That said, your best clues might be in their structure and behavior. Red-shouldered Hawks have a longer tail and flap more frequently; sometimes their flight can even resemble an accipiter (like a Cooper's Hawk). The Red-shouldered is also very vocal, and its call sounds quite different than the Red-tailed's. You might also consider their different habitats: Red-shouldered prefers woodlands while Red-tailed is seen in more open habitats. Here is a useful side-by-side comparison: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/species-compare/71533441 The book Hawks in Flight is another great guide that emphasizes structural clues and flight style over traditional plumage-based field marks.
Thanks, Mom! Birds in the window are a welcome diversion for me as well. 🙂
You’re the second person that’s suggested the Saving Time book this week! I have too many to read books but I think I’ll add that anyway haha. Thanks for your wisdom!
Hey, Callahan! Thanks so much for reading. Yeah, Jenny Odell is a brilliant writer! I can't recommend her enough. You should also read How to Do Nothing if you haven't!