Ain’t that the truth. Nature’s selection or nature’s dumb luck?
If it applies to people, there are quite a few bozos in this world, people you would have to wonder how long they would make it in the natural world. Two minutes maybe?
When I was photographing eagles in Maryland, another photographer nudged me to notice this guy decked out in sandals, a tank top and shorts. It was very cold outside and the rest of us were wearing hats, gloves, winter coats, and some, even long underwear. We all said “dumb human”.
Cold and puffed up hawk
When I was driving to Pennsylvania, I started noticing a lot of hawks I mean a real lot of hawks. To amuse myself on the long ride, I started counting them getting to 74 halfway through New York before the game started to bore me. By the NYS line, there had to be over 100.
I get into Pennsylvania and it was like they had a sign posted saying no hawks allowed. I was really hunting for them then, and none to be seen. It was like a mass exodus. Wildlife was abundant when I lived there.
Maybe the Pennsylvania hawks heard the good thing our governor has done for New York State by banning fracking. Remember I said on a recent post I thought there was a hawk convention going on? Maybe word got out.
Or there is another possibility. Could it be NY has all the dumbest hawks in the nation that hunt along the highway, risking being splattered by a semi. And the Pennsylvania hawks live in the wild wilderness, safe and sound? Or maybe since half the pickups in PA sport a shotgun in the window, maybe the hawk population took a nose-dive. Even though shooting hawks is federally forbidden I wonder if some of these guys can read. An eagle was found shot to death recently.
It really was a head scratcher.
An upcoming post questions something a well-known pro photographer posted recently. Sometimes I don’t always get what the pros have to say, or even the images they post. See that this weekend. And on GWGT now, a few flowers for cold January. Then a post on my new camera.
Excellent hawk photos. Well done.
Thanks Phil. As many as I saw, some were in range.
Very impressive photos!
Thanks Connie, a bit smaller target than the eagles. Smaller yet on Thursday!
The last photo of the Red-tailed hawk is amazing! I really like that one.
I got a chuckle out of the first few lines you posted.The guy in sandals probably thought he was pretty cool looking (but actually freezing his butt off).
The guy really was out of place. What made it more humorous was his companions were all dressed for the weather.
Love your hawks!
Thank you.
Great pictures!!!!
Here in the Netherlands you also see a lot of hawks near the highway. that is because of the people throwing foodbags and things like that out of the car. That attracks a lot of mice and mice atrrack hawks. i hope you can read my poor English writing a bit …. 😉
I can see why the trash would bring in the rodents, then hawks. I never did see a hawk get prey from crossing the road, but do see them often with prey along the side of the road. Your English is fine.
I had one of these calling from the neighbor’s tree yesterday. It was waiting to scoop in on my wild birds who were smart enough to wait in cover until it departed. Now if I could shoo the damned mockingbirds away, the bluebirds could survive in peace. Mockingbirds target ONLY the bluebirds and endlessly harass them. Grrr!
I did not know mockingbirds target bluebirds. Thanks for that. The hawks are less selective. In my yard any bird will do. All the hawks I have been shooting are those in the wild. They must have had a grew breeding year.
Those hawks are awesomely beautiful. Thanks for super photos, as here they are only clear through my binoculars.
What a beautiful creature! Exquisite shots, Donna! 🙂
Thanks Marina. I agree, hawks are a regal bird.
Beautiful shots of the hawks.
Thank you, Pat.
Wonderful shots. There is something comforting to me about seeing a lot of hawks.
Me too. Thanks Lyle.
Yes we do have so many hawks in the wilds, burbs and roadsides….good hunting in NY?
I guess, but they rarely catch something there. There are plenty in cities too. My yard gets quite a few, poultry is on the menu.