To some people, bird identification can seem like a mystical art. Those who master it have gleaned their knowledge from studying the arcane lore of bird ID, leafing through dusty tomes called field guides far into the wee hours of the morning. These masters have journeyed to distant lands, sought the unseekable, and made pilgrimages to the most legendary places in birding history. They have sacrificed time with family and friends, comfortable beds, and healthy meals just so they can answer one simple question: “What bird is that?” To others, there’s an app for that. Here on the Hawk Deck, there is another option — you can ask your friendly neighborhood hawk counter.
Invariably, there is a follow-up question to “What bird is that?,” which is “How can you tell?” Often I will joke, “Oh, just guessing, I’m not the hawk counter. He’s on a bathroom break.” Or something else equally silly. However, a wise man once said that with great power comes great responsibility, and people do count on my identifications for their life lists — which for many are serious business. Then there is the old saying, “Show a person a bird, they bird for a moment. Teach a person to bird, they bird for a lifetime!”…or something like that.
Identifying hawks in flight, above all else, is a study of form and function, and while I would love people to believe it is a mystical art, giving names to things is simply human nature. That’s why the first field guide was invented; it gave names to the birds and showed us how to tell them apart. Hawk counting is merely an intense focus on a select group of birds, raptors specifically. If you would like to learn more about raptor ID, there will be a live webinar this Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. You can join via Zoom (registration required) or watch on our Facebook page.
~ Rich Couse
2021 Spring Hawk Counter
Photo by Rich Couse
You can see live updates for the 2021 Spring Hawk Count on Dunkadoo, read Rich’s weekly blog post, and follow WPBO’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for hawk count highlights this season.
If you visit WPBO, please practice social distancing while doing so. Although not required, we encourage you to wear masks if you are in close proximity to other people, even if outdoors. If necessary, a capacity limit will be set for how many people can utilize the Hawk Deck simultaneously.
Celebrating Spring Migration at Whitefish Point — A Webinar Series
Raptor Identification and Field Marks
May 13 | 7 p.m.
Are you one of the many people who find raptor identification to be tricky? Join us for a presentation by Hawk Counter Rich Couse as he covers the basics of raptor ID. Rich will share his tips and tricks that he utilizes as the hawk counter at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (where he is currently serving his second season at the WPBO Hawk Deck) and other hawk watching sites across the country. From field marks to flight style, Rich will cover the tools you need to distinguish between Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks, Golden and Bald Eagles, and more.
This event is the second in a four-part series of free webinars celebrating spring migration at the Point and highlighting WPBO research programs.
