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CORNELL UNIVERSITY
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WILLIAM D. SARGENT
Collection
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Vol. XXXVIII, No. 6 WASHINGTON December, 1920
THE
ATQONAL
COPYRIGHT, I 9 20. BY NATIONAL GEOGRAFHIC SOCIETY. WASHINGTON. P. C.
WILL surprise many to learn that Orient and had brought with them both
ITthe art of falconry, or hawking, goes falcons and
trainers. War lords never
courts without their falconers
back to the remote and unwritten left their
ern Europe and Saxon England. From conry in Europe ceased after the great
that time it thrived, filling an important social upheavals mentioned. Its mainte-
place in the life of the times. nance as a sport since then is attributable
in large measure to half a dozen hawking
RETURNING CRUSADERS WERE ENTHUSI- clubs, among which are the Falconers'
ASTIC DEVOTEES OE FALCONRY Club, the High Ash Club, and the Loo
A vast impetus was given to falconry Club in Holland. There were probably
by the returning crusaders, who had be- thirty or forty private establishments in
come familiar with the methods of the England in 1914, but no doubt the World
430 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
War has made a heavy toll on both the able to stand the changes of climate of
personnel and the support of the sport. its owner's country must be strong
; it
Within the last twenty years there had enough and swift enough to overtake and
been a great renascence of amatevtr fal- strike down its quarry, and intelligent
conry among the English, and some rather enough to be able to unlearn much of its
successful attempts have been made in native knowledge. These qualities are
America, particularly in the Genesee Val- possessed by only about a dozen species,
ley, New York. belonging to two groups or genera the —
The great expense of maintaining the true falcons, of the genus Falco, or long-
birds, due to the scarcity of experienced winged hawks, and the short-winged
trainers and catchers, and the difficulties group of forest-hawks known as "Ac-
of forwarding so rangy a sport in the cipiters." Only two of the latter are used,
settled conditions of most of our eastern the goshawk and the European sparrow-
country have made it impossible, however, hawk. The bird known in America as
(
to hunt, as in all other animal training, first a very practical and even sordid pur-
advantage is taken of the natural pro- suit, only later —
much later becoming —
clivities of the creature in hand, neverthe- the sport of the privileged classes.
less, it seems at first glance that these Apeculiar set of traditions and an
vigorous and intrepid birds are taught to equally picturesque language have be-
go almost directly against their instincts. come inseparably attached to the art of
First of all, being among the wildest and falconry and it is only fair to the Scotch,
;
shyest of creatures, they must be taught who, in their conservatism, have been
that man, instead of being their worst responsible for the colorful language of
enemy, is really their best friend. Then golf, to give them the credit for preserv-
the rest becomes comparatively easy, if ing the romantic terminology of falconry.
no mistakes are made. But any one of It Avas in Scotland that the art was per-
hundreds of possible errors may undo petuated after it had languished over
weeks of patient and successful labor. most of Europe.
Then, too, since dififerent kinds of game Ancient history is elocjuent with the in-
must be hunted at different times of the fluence of the noble sport of hawking,
year and in different kinds of cover, the history of medieval Europe is richly
either the same hawk must be trained colored with it, sixteenth and seventeenth
first for one type of work and later for century literature fairly abounds in pas-
something entirely different, or different sages concerning it, and the language of
kinds of hawks must be used. the day was so tinctured with the jargon
Of the hundreds of kinds of hawks, of the hawkers that it is fair to conclude
only certain ones possess the combina- that, before men had knowledge of gun-
tion of qualities necessary for this beauti- powder and the fowling-piece, hawking
ful and romantic sport. A hawk must was such a general practice as to be the
be at once kind and fierce; it must be principal means of obtaining wild game.
432 THE XATIOXAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
Cr0ujri-
nife"
Lesser Coverts.
.MiCtdle Couerts.
Secondarif Coi/etts.
Tn'marif Coverh.
Seconofaries Cf^L^6S)
'
-iDetk Fea-tiren"
(MicUU T'^ir)
According to the "Boke of St. Albans," Falcons are brought into subjection to
published about i486, the kinds of hawks man's will either by being taken from the
apparently used by the various elements nest just before they are able to fly or by
in English socie;ty are given as follows being caught wild after they are fully
Emperor
grown and self-supporting. Those taken
. . . Eagle.
King Gerfalcon and tiercil of from the nest (eyess hawks) are the ones
gerfalcon. usually trained over most of Europe.
Prince Falcon gentle and tierci! Ordinarily they are much gentler and
gentle.
Duke Rock falcon.
more easily trained, but lack the dash and
Erie Peregrine. style of the wild-caught birds known as
Baron Bastard. "haggards." In India and Africa, how-
Knight Sacre and sacret. ever, the eyess is virtually unknown, as
Squire Lanare and lanret. the hawks are always trapped adult.
Lady Mezlyon (Merlin).
Young Man. Hobby. THE bird's training BEGINS
Yeoman .... Goshawk.
Poorman . . . Tezcett. In the training of eyesses the procedure
Priest Sparrowhawk. of the present day differs only slightly
Holywater
Clerk Muskayte. from that of the Middle Ages. Modern
falconers use very much the same quaint
THE Falconer's xames for his hawks medicines and nostrums and have the
Falcons of the same kind differ so in
same names for falconine troubles as are
so picturesquely described by Bert in his
performance and character, according to
"Treatise of Hawks and Hawking," pub-
their experience before being taken in
lished 300 years ago.
hand, that the falconer has separate names
The }"oung hawks are left until nearly
for each type, as follows
all the down has been replaced by brown
Eyess is the name given to falcons
feathers. Their removal from the nest
taken from the nest
takes place toward evening, when they
Branchcr is applied to young thjit have
are put in a hamper and sent to the fal-
left the nest, but not the neighborhood of
coner. It is highly desirable that as much
their infancy
as possible of their journey be made at
Passagers are birds of the year caught night.
in the autumn migration ;
Arriving at their destination, they are
Haggards are adult birds with two or placed in a roughly made nest and fed on
more years of wild experience chopped beef and egg. and a little later
Falcon is strictly the female of any of on fresh birds, rabbit, rat, or squirrel.
the larger long-winged hawks, while the All food should be tied to a boferd in a
male, being nearly a third smaller and given place, to force the young hawks,
lighter in weight, is called the "tiercel" which are otherwise free except for the
or "tarsel." In strictest usage (now gen- bell and "jess," or leg-strap, to come to
erally ignored) the tiercel is the male of the same place for food.
the goshawk, the larger of the short- The birds are now "at hack" until they
winged hawks, while the male peregrine learn to fly, and begin to stoop at live
isthe "light tiercel" or "tiercel-gentle" of prey on their own account. They should
Juliet's time. Being so much larger and be left entirely alone, and for the present
stronger, the female, or falcon proper, the wilder they become the better for ;
has always received the greatest share of should they come now to associate food
the falconer's regard and labor. with man's presence, they would at once
Gne who trains and hunts long-wings start clamoring and screaming every time
only is the true falconer, while the user —
they saw a man a most undesirable
of goshawks and sparrow-hawks is tech- trick.
nically an Austringer or Ostringer, from If properly "hacked," the young birds
the Latin Astru (French Aittur), the soon learn to make long flights into the
generic name of these hawks. surrounding country, returning at regular
The falconer has a special name for intervals to be fed from the shelf or feed-
every part of his hawk and for every- ing-board. They may be left in this state
thing he does. of virtual freedom for some three weeks,
434 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
until they begin to catch prey for. them- several hours each day, spoken to, and
selves. Then they are "caught up." It softly stroked until it begins to lose its
is time to catch them when they begin to nervousness and becomes reconciled to
be absent at the regular feeding time. the hand as a perch. It may now be fed
A bow-net is used in the trapping — a little, and when it eats without hesita-
light twine net fastened along one side to tion the hood may be removed gently, in
a stick bent into a half circle, the free candle-light, and the meal nearly finished
side being pegged down and the ends of unhooded. The rufter must be replaced
the stick swiveled to pegs in the ground. before the end of the meal, however, or
The net is folded back on the pegged the hawk will come to associate the hood
side and a light cord fifty yards long tied with the end of its feeding time, and
to the middle of the bow. The trap is resent it.
then baited with a tempting morsel, also When the bird feeds freely by candle-
pegged in place, and the bird is trapped light it may be tried in daylight, and after
when it comes to feed. The moment it this is accomplished it should be accus-
is caught a soft leather hood, open at the tomed to the presence of men, children,
back and known as a "rufter," is placed dogs, and other creatures ordinarily
over its eyes and tied on, a swivel and frightful to it. This does not usually
leash tied to the jesses, and it is put down take many days.
on soft grass with a block to sit on and
left for an hour or two to settle down.
JIOST OF THE hawk's LIFE IS SPENT IN
Its real "manning" (training to endure
DARKNESS
the presence of strangers) now begins. Now comes the hardest part of the
It must be carried on the gloved hand for manning —the breaking to the hood.
FALCONRY, THE SPORT OF KINGS 435
This is a delicate business, one in which ing of young hawks. It is an easy task,
many a fine hawk has been ruined, as a compared with the manning of haggard
hood-shy hawk, whatever its other vir- or passage hawks, which have for a sea-
tues,is of no use to its owner. Most of son at least been accustomed to shunning
[
should be awarded, and after a few repe- most skillful and expert trappers and
titions of this the bird will seldom be far trainers, and many of the most famous
from its master when he has the lure falcons in the history of the sport have
with him. come from their able hands.
The bird must now be taught to kill In capturing the "passage hawks,'" the
for itself, and a fledgling pigeon is a good trapper conceals himself in a sod hut,
subject for this. If properly trained to from which extend long strings to op-
the lure, there is no danger of the hawk erate the net and the decoys used to lure
"carrying" (flying ofi^ with its quarry), the wild hawk within range from afar,
which a serious fault.
is After a few after its approach has been heralded by
"easy" birds, a capable old pigeon may be the little telltale "announcer."
flown.
THE BUTCHER-BIRD IS THE TRAPPEr's
The hawk, unless unusually good, will
SCOUT
miss on this quarry, but on returning
high in the air should be thrown an easy Xow, of all birds, perhaps the shrike,
bird; then well fed and petted. It has or butcher-bird, most cordially hates and
probably learned from this that to suc- fears its big competitor and ogre, the fal-
ceed it must be above its quarry. After con. And the shrike can detect its enemy
this is learned, the hawk may be flown at in the far, far distance much sooner and
UPPER FIGURE, FIELD CADGE ; LOWER FIGURE, SCREEN CADGE, FOR HOUSING FALCONS
The carrier of the cadge —
was usually a country boy a tenant of the owner of the hawks.
From "cadger" came "codger," a countryman, and doubtless cad and caddie, both typical
Scottish derivatives only slightly different in their present-day appHcations.
falcon-catcher first traps his shrike and set some fifty yards from the hut.
attaches him to a perch on a little sod Through a ringed peg driven in the mid-
mound with a retreat into which it may dle of the net passes the tether to the
dive to safety when the hawk comes near. bait,a live pigeon which is in retreat in a
The shrike sits quietly on its perch box a few feet away. When
the falcon
until it sees a falcon in the distance, when lias come within
hundred yards of the
a
it begins to chatter and scold, getting trap the "lure" pigeon is dragged out.
more and more excited as the falcon ap- flapping its wings. The hawk prepares
proaches, and finally actually "pointing," to stoop. At this moment the "lure"
thus giving the trapper ample time to pigeon is dropped and dives to shelter
have everything in readiness. and the "bait" pigeon is drawn out of its
At the first sign, the trapper retreats box into view. When the hawk has
into his hut and closes everything except struck, the victim and victor are drawn
the little peep-window and begins work- gently into the exact center of the net,
ing his tied pigeon and the decoy hawk which is then sprung by means of a line
up and down on the elevated line, to at- from the hut.
tract the wild falcon's eye. The falconer loses no time now. He
The actual trap consists of a bow-net runs out to the trap, fastens- jesses to the
FALCONRY, THE SPORT OF KINGS 43^
quarry, by circling or "ringing," and, located and flushed with dogs or beaters
when sufficiently well placed, dashing and the hawk flown from the falconer's
down headlong, hitting their quarry a re- wrist, or the birds are trained to "wait
sounding blow that often can be heard a on." In the latter case, upon being un-
long distance, following it down and hooded and flown, they ring up and up.
striking again if necessary, but never attain their "pitch," wait for the game to
"binding" to it, and never striking quarry be flushed, and when it is well tmder way
that is sitting or on the ground. make their terrific stoop.
Falcons proper are always hunted in On large game, like heron, falcons are
open country, where the quarry is either often flown in "casts," or pairs, and take
FALCONRY, THE SPORT OF KINGS 439
turns stooping in rapid succession until fatal blow when the bustard has become
the quarry is killed. nearly exhausted, as by that time have
In the good old days many kinds of also such horses as have been able to
hawks were used, but those most es- keep up with the terrific chase.
teemed, because of their size, style, and
THE PEREGRINE IS THE FALCON OE
beauty, were the gerfalcons of the north.
EALCONS
Centuries ago the Icelanders caught and
trained both old and young birds, and The peregrine, falcon of falcons, is not
the annual catch sometimes amounted to as large or as strong as either the gers or
hundreds. the sacre, but combines, with a hardihood
In general, however, the gerfalcon unknown to the "exotics," all the qualities
does not seem to thrive in England or on
the Continent. It wilts in the summer
that go to make a good hawk gentle-
ness, teachability, courage, dash, willing-
—
and becomes listless, refusing to fly, and ness to "wait on" at a great height, and,
finally fading and falling prey to some most important of all, availability for, as ;
one of the many ills that beset hawks. has been said, the peregrine has a world-
This seems to point to a great skill and wide range, and is therefore obtainable
knowledge on the part of the medieval in almost any country where men want
falconers, who certainly used the gers to use it. In this article, then, unless
very extensively and successfully in kill- specially noted, the peregrine is the sub-
ing the kite, a most capable hawk, then ject of the narrative.
common all over Britain and Europe. In a wild were it a common bird
state,
anywhere, it would be a very undesirable
WHEN" THE DESERT EALCOX HUNTS THE
neighbor, for it preys almost exclusively
GAZELLE
on birds, and is capable of taking such
The sacre, a "desert falcon," nearly as swift and resourceful game as plover,
large and heavy as the gerfalcon, is still snipe, and wild-fowl. Its common name
used in India for hunting the kite, and in America, the duck-hawk, is well given,
probably this is the most thrilling quarry the reference being to wild ducks and
that has ever been used in falconry. The not the tame bird.
kite is a magnificent flier and spends Like many another brigand, the pere-
much time at an altitude of thousands of grine prefers easy prey to difficult, is in
feet, so that the actual battle often takes nowise averse to poultry, and is particu-
place so high as to be almost out of sight. larly fond of domestic pigeons. A pair
Another spectacular use to which the whose eyrie I watched on a 400-foot cliff
sacre is put is in the hunting of gazelles near my home one July day had three
and of bustards. The falconer and his young on the wing. During the middle
field are mounted on swift horses, and in of the day there was little activity and
the gazelle hunt three, five, or more all the birds sat quietly pluming and rest-
hawks are cast when the quarry is ing; but for the first three hours in the
started. It is an exciting chase, full of morning and the last three in the after-
danger every one concerned the
for — noon, one old bird or the other returned
riders, because of the chase over rough about every twenty minutes with a pig-
country the quarry, because of the num-
;
eon. On that one day sixteen pigeons
ber and intrepidity of his assailants were brought to the young.
and the hawks, because in their dashing Of course, this was more than they
stoops they are frequently impaled upon could eat entirely, and much more per
the horns of their quarry. capita than grown birds would consume,
The Houbara bustard, a large plover- but where an adult hawk will keep in very
like bird the size of a turkey, aflfords a fine condition on half a pound of fresh
spectacular chase. He does not fly, but, game a day, a growing fledgling requires
with wings and neck outstretched, runs above its own weight daily of animal
like a cloud-shadow fleeting over the food in order to maintain its miraculous
plain. The hawks, three or more in a growth and the great physical effort of
cast, pursue and worry their quarry for producing an entire coat of feathers.
miles over the desert, only striking the There are many recorded instances of
440 THE NATIOX'AL GEOGRAPHIC .MAGAZINE
the wild peregrine's adaptability to the "General," a falcon belonging to the
easy life of great cities, where congenial Duke of Leeds, killed in 1832 129 out of
nesting and roosting places are found in 132 flights, mostly at partridges. "Vesta"
the belfries, towers, and lofts of the pub- was flown in Scotland in nine successive
lic buildings and pigeons in abundance years, averaging 33 grouse a season. This
are available. For many winters an old is an unusually long life of activity.
peregrine appeared in Washington, haunt- A glance down the records of famous
ing the Post-Office Department building clubs and of private owners reveals many
tower as a lookout, sallying forth when- interesting and romantic names, such as
ever it was hungry, making a clean kill the falcons "Lady Jane Grey," "Em-
on pigeon, and returning to the post-office press," "Buccaneer," "Black Lady,"
roof to plume and eat its prey. A
mem- "Comet." "Destiny," and "Will o' the
ber of the Biological Survey went on Wisp" tiercels "Druid," "Butcherboy,"
;
had been left by this bold and capable hawks "Blanche," "Lady Macbeth," and
brigand. "Faerie" goshawks "Enid," "Isault,"
;
A
fine old female peregrine I once took "Geraint," "Tostin," "Sir Tristram," and
from Pajaro was liv-
Island, in Mexico, for variety "Gaiety Gal" and, grimmest
ing on white from a convenient rook-
ibis and truest of all, "Shadow o' Death."
ery, and her lookout tree was well sur-
rounded by the bleached and weathered A FAMOUS FLIGHT BY "BOIS-LE-DUC"
carcasses of her victims. I fancy her "Bois-le-duc" was a haggard falcon of
demise was a welcome event on the fine qualities,and the following, quoted
island. from Lascelles, gives us a lively picture
Many stirring accounts are current of of a rook flight by this famous hawk:
the courage and tenacity of purpose these "We take up our position behind a
hawks possess, but one of the most strik- stack to wait for a rook passing on his
ing is of an eyess falcon belonging to a way from the rookery in the valley to
Major Fisher, which was flown at a the sheepfold on the hill. Presently we
woodcock near Loch Eil. Both birds see one coming, toiling slowly over the
mounted at once, higher and higher, until shoulder of the down.
they were entirely lost to view, even with "Shall we fly one of the young falcons
powerful glasses. After considerable lately entered and coming on so well, or
time, however, a tiny speck was seen fall- shall be the old heroine of a hundred
it
ing out of the sky, and the woodcock, flights, victress over more than double
closely followed by the thunderbolt in that number of rooks, that flies now her
feathers that had struck him, fell toward fourth season with all the vigor and dash
the very patch of- fern from which he she di.splayed in the blinding snowstorms
had been flushed. Before hitting the and heavy gales of her first year?
ground, however, the hawk had again "A hundred or two yards is far enough
overtaken her victim and struck him stone for a slip with a young hawk, but with a
dead in air. After so long a chase the real good one a quarter of mile is not
falcon was well fed up, and, so far as she too far, while many and many a time, if
was concerned, her master wisely "called the wind be right for her, the old hawk
it a day." has been slipped at rooks a fair half mile
The "Old Hawking Club," organized away.
in England in 1864, always maintained a "It looks as if this slip would be too
fine cadge of hawks and kept careful far for a young hawk, so the handsome
records of individual performances. Be- old falcon is taken on hand, to the delight
tween August 12 and September 14 one of the whole field, not one of whom, how-
year, the club's prize bird, "Parachute," ever large it may be, but will stay out
a two-year-old eyess falcon, killed 'just one half-hour more' when it is
57 an-
grouse, 76 partridges, 5 pheasants, nounced that it is the turn of old 'Bois-
3
hares, and five birds of miscellaneous le-duc' to fly at the next chance
that
species. occurs.
1 ;
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II
TIERCEL GENTLE: A HIT ON GROUSE
Scotland must receive the credit for perpetuating the " Noble Art " when it had languished over the rest
of western Europe, and no quarry is better suited to the capacities of the Peregrine, or " Gentle Falcon,"
than the Scotch red grouse. But the " gentle " part is forgotten when the hawk makes its thunderbolt assault,
diving on its victim from a height or "pitch" of hundreds of feet, usually killing it clean with a single
resounding blow of the half-closed fist. A good falcon will never seize or " truss " i's quarry.
The term tiercel (meaning the male of various species of falcon) is derived from the Latin tertius, accord-
ing to some because every third bird in the nest is supposed to be a male ; according to others because the
male is supposed to be a third smaller than the female.
Ill
GOSHAWKS: AN ADULT TIERCEL (MALE) AND A YOUNG FEMALE
These are the fiercest and most competent killers ot all, and therefore used principally by the " yeomanry"
as meat getters. They are in " red " plumage for the first two years of their life, afterward becoming slaty-
grayabove and barred below. Theyrequire carefulwatching in the niews(the buildings where the hawks are kept),
lest they break loose, when they will go systematically about killing every other bird in the loft. They hunt
on or near the ground, and, unlike the falcon, come to earth with their quarry. .Among all hawks, the female
is larger and nrore powerful than the male.
IV
GOSHAWK STRIKING PHEASANT
Unlike the true falcons, the short-winged Goshawk hunts ground-haunting quarry, and trusses (holds) to
its victim till the latter ceases to struggle, no matter how fierce and rough the tussle may be. It kills by the
vice-like squeeze of its piercing talons, instead of by the terrific blow of the half-open foot, as do the true
falcons. " Red Queen," a famous goshawk of the " Old Hawking Club," had an authentic record of six-
teen hares out of seventeen struck in a single morning.
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XII
Xlll
A CAST OF FALCONS ON THE WRIST : HOLLAND
The birds are carried hooded until the game is started. Then the hood is doffed, tiie leash slipped
from the swivel and the falcons cast off, singly, unless the game is large and powerful. The rest lies with
the birds.
Much skilland dexterity are required, for an outraged falcon is no easy thing to handle, and can inflict
severe punishment with its great needle-sharp talons. The beak, though a capable weapon, is not used
even in self-defense.
XIV
HAWKS THAT ARE THE FRIENDS OF MAN
Large, conspicuous hawks are all of great economic value, being the principal natural check on the hordes of
noxious rodents that, if unmolested, would soon render agriculture unprofitable. The large soaring, circling
hawks of the open country are not the ones that molest the farmer's poultry, but are the ones that hold in
check the field-niice, gophers, ground-squirrels, mole-crickets and grasshoppers that annually cost the country
many millions of dollars through their depredations on crops, orchards and forage.
XV
ONLY FOUR MEMBERS OF THE HAWK FAMILY ARE OUR ENEMIES
The four liawks whose names are underscored are the ones that give a bad name
to the whole hawk family.
Of these the Cooper's Hawk is most important because commonest and most widely distributed. The Gos-
hawk, restricted to the Northern wooded region, is terribly destructive to game birds and to poultry. The
Sharp-shin, an inveterate bird-killer, is too small to molest poultry, except chicks a few days old. The
Pigeon Hawk is not important, being quite rare.
XVI
FALCONRY, THE SPORT OF KINGS 45
"All is hushed as the rook, a single "Up, up they go, gradually becoming
bird, presumably a strong old cock, comes smaller and smaller. Ring above ring
slowly up. He passes us and is going does the falcon make, yet without getting
nicely on when something about the party above him, till, apparently determined to
awakens his suspicions and he gives a gain the victory, she starts off into the
sudden swerve that in one second takes wind to make one tremendous circle that
him about 150 yards off on a side wind. shall attain her object.
"We are not to be done this way, "Steadily into the wind she goes, the
though, and in a moment the head of our rook striving to follow her example, and
party, with falcon on hand, dashes out at appearing from below to be flying after
a brisk gallop down wind of the rook, the hawk. At length, as she almost com-
which hastens up on wind. But a hun- pletes the outer circumference of her cir-
dred yards or so is no matter to us with cle, the rook, perhaps feeling his powers
this hawk, and the moment we are fairly exhausted, turns down wind, and, at a
down wind of him the old hawk is un- great height, makes oft' as fast as he can
hooded and flung off and the falcon is
; go-
in hot pursuit of her quarry, rising with "Surely the flight is over, for the falcon
each stroke of her powerful wings till is still working away, headto the wind,
she seems to shoot upward like an arrow as hard as she can —
in fact, the two birds
from the bow. are flying in opposite directions, half a
"The rook has seen her, and is making mile apart. 'Not a bit of it,' say the
his way upward at no mean rate ; but the initiated, who are oft' down wind as fast
pace of the falcon is too much for him, as they can ride.
and ere long she is above him. Poising
herself for a moment, she comes, with
A MAGXIFICENT STOOP, AND VICTORY !
one terrible perpendicular stoop, straight "In another moment you see the falcon
at him. come round, and though such a height
at
"It would seem as though nothing she looks no bigger than a swallow, you
could escape but our rook is equal. to the
;
can see that she is far above the rook,
occasion, and with a clever shift he has while her pace, slightly descending as she
dodged her attack by a good yard or is, is almost that of a bullet. So thinks
more. her quarry, apparently for. shutting his
;
the enemy, in the shape of the excited magnificent stoop a splendid flight
!
"
field, who soon drive him with halloo and Bravo, 'Bois-le-duc !'
crack of whip from his shelter, and com- Among the smaller falcons the merlin,
pel him again to seek the open. The hobby, and kestrel are the only ones now
falcon has, however, strayed a little away ;
used, and, indeed, the kestrel, being
so he starts with might and main to ring, largely a locust and mouse feeder, seems
in spiral curves, into the very clouds. to be rather beyond the skill of the mod-
"After, him starts the hawk, but soon ern trainer, though there are abundant
finds that really good rook, such as this proofs that it was used in medieval times.
is, can mount nearly as fast as she can. This is a beautiful and gentle species and
45S THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
Falcons kill their prey in full flight, by a terrific blow with the h;ilf-closed font, returning
after the strike to pick up the victim (see Color Plate II).
training and hunting of the two short- ture from the falcon, and by its nature
winged hawks, the goshawk and the spar- and style of hunting is fitted for entirely
rowhawk. different work : for the goshawk does not
strike its prey in air and return to it after
Just as the falcons, with their long,
the turn, but pursues it and binds to it at
narrow wings and compact bodies, are
once, whether in air or. as it prefers, on
adapted to the chase in the open, with
the ground. These hawks have a curious
wide maneuvers and great stoops through
habit, too, of covering their quarry with
unbroken space, so these rangy, slim-
their outstretched wings and tail until it
legged birds, with short, "broad-
their
ceases to struggle.
fingered" wings and long, sweeping train,
are beautifully adapted to work in the THE goshawk's feet ARE ENGINES OF
tangles and forests, where they naturally DEATH
live. The feet of the goshawk are veritable
These birds seldom come out into open engines of death, with enormous talons
country unless there is some tempting and great strength. Whereas a falcon's
poultry yard or game preserve where a foot is more like a fist to deliver a terri-
quick sally is assured
of its reward. ble blow, the short-wing's feet are like
Wlien such a larder is discovered, how- great ice-tongs with semicircular claws
ever, little peace comes to the owner until nearly an inch long, which enter the very
the marauder has been brought to earth, vitals of the quarry and kill as tough a
for it will take its daily toll until the yard creature as a rat or a hare in a few sec-
or cover is depleted. onds and take the life of any bird almost
Goshawks and horned owls are gener- instantly (see drawings on this and the
ally to be feared in cold winters on all opposite page).
FALCONRY, THE SPORT OF KINGS 459
These hawks are worked along hedge- There is something almost devilish
rows or in woods, only being used in open about the fury of a goshawk's strike.
ground on hares, rabbits, or pheasants. Her yellow or orange eye, the pupil con-
In thick cover they perch hard by, watch- centrated to a cold point, fairly burns
ing for the instant the quarry may be put with ferocity, and the clutch of her awful
out by dogs or beaters. foot is such that virtually no amount of
The short-wings are very much more twisting or somersaulting on the part of
intent on their game than are the falcons, the hare or rabbit can dislodge the great
and even in a wild state have been known piercing hooks.
to chase fowls into the farmer's .kitchen As an example of the goshawk's sin-
and kill there. Dr. Fisher records an gle - mindedness when in pursuit of
amusing instance in which a goshawk quarry, Lascelles tells of one which drove
dashed in and seized a fowl which had impetuously downhill at a rabbit. As the
that instant been killed by a farmer, drag- quarry leajDed four feet in the air to
ging it only a few rods before starting to avoid the stroke which grazed it, the
deplume it. In another case, a hawk pur- hawk turned over and caught it from
sued its quarry through the kitchen of a underneath while in the air, "rolling af-
farm-house into a bedroom and there terward down a steep bank head over
made its kill under the bed heels, but never leaving go her hold."
While the strikes of this hawk are very "It is not uncommon," continues this
hard and impetuous, they are usually observer, "to see a rabbit captured at the
short, and do not result in the exhaus- mouth of a burrow, and hawk and all
tion that follows a good flight by a falcon. disappear under ground but when she is
;
Thus they may be flown many times in lifted out, however much she is knocked
a day, and there is the record of old about, the rabbit is in her foot."
"Gaiety Gal," who was flown at 17 hares
THE SPAEROWHAWK HAS MANY
in one morning, trussing to all and killing
ADMIRERS
clean all but the last, which, being excep-
tionally strong and the hawk naturally The sparrowhawk is reclaimed and
weary, got away after a struggle. Sir trained in much the same manner as
Henry Boynton's "Red Queen" killed 24 other hawks, and her tactics are almost
rabbits in one day. exactly those of her big relative. No
4(30 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
whit less fierce and bloodthirsty is she, on its course, flew past me to a distance
and the blackbird or starling that has put of perhaps a hundred feet, wheeled, and
into a hedgerow or thicket has small again drove at the bush as if thrown from
chance of eluding the cold eye that is a catapult.
quietly watching from some near-by This occurred four times in rapid suc-
perch for the first stir. cession before the hawk decided it was
The sparrowhawk has many enthusi- of no use and continued on its way philo-
astic supporters,and for many reasons is sophically. After a very short time the
the best fitted for the amateur falconer, sparrow, too, resumed its normal state of
as these birds are not costly and small mind and joined a group of others in the
loss attends failure. They may be used road near by.
on almost all small game and brush birds,
and have been used with success on par- From the foregoing it will be seen that
tridge. In England, however, the spar- falconry had its rise through man's early
rowhawk is used chiefly on blackbirds necessity, in man's birthplace, central
and starlings, and while it is in a way Asia, where it has thrived almost with-
small sport, the ingenuit)^ of the quarry out interruption ever since that later it
;
and the catlike agility of the little hawk became the sport of the more privileged
give spice to the chase. classes, attained a high pitch of popu-
Here, even the tin)- male or "muskett" larity in medieval times, and has since
is of use. The chase is over if the hawk fallen, as the result of many contributing
makes a true strike but the quarry is re-
; causes, to a point where it is costly and
sourceful and nimble and it is frequently extremely difficult to maintain.
very difficult to make the pursued bird It is not too much to suppose, however,
fly if it has once succeeded in reaching that there will always be those who have
cover. the means and the desire to keep alive
I once saw close at hand the tactics of one of the most beautiful and romantic
a house-sparrow, which flew chattering sports that man has ever devised. For-
within a few inches of my head, hotly tunately, there is plenty of colorful liter-
pursued by a male sharp-shin, the Amer- ature on the subject from the days of
ican miniature of the sparrowhawk. chivalry and there are several practical
The sparrow flew directly into the densest books by later-day devotees of the art.
tvviggery of an old lilac clump, and there It is, perhaps, not too much to venture
continued to flutter and chatter. Almost the belief that now, after the war that
instantly thehawk, wings and tail thrown has so completely occupied the minds and
back and lean, sharp talons extended, lives of the civilized world is over, we
struck the bush with a thwack, trying to shall swing back to some of the less seri-
drive through to the terrified (but still ous pursuits that we formerly enjoyed,
resourceful) sparrow. Failing, the hawk, and that among these falconry may un-
entirely ignoring me, turned back again dergo a real revival.
Biological Survey have been instructed to bers of both groups being among the
send to the Bureau the crops and stom- comparatively rare hawks. The whole
achs of all the birds and animals they genus Accipitcr, consisting of the Gos-
collect, that their food habits may be hawk, Cooper's Hawk, and Sharp-shinned
studied without favor or prejudice. As Hawk, are savage, bloodthirsty, and cold-
a result of this study, the balance in favor hearted slaughterers, and are responsible
of the American birds of prey has been in large measure for the anathema that
shown to be an overwhelming one. No is the portion of all hawks. Of these the
similar natural check exists against the Goshawk (A. atricapilltts) .is at once the
hordes of destructive and rapidly multi- largest and most destructive. It inhabits
plying field-mice, gophers, wood-rats, only the northern wooded portions of
ground-squirrels, and moles. ^lany perse- America, coming south in winter to a line
cuted species of birds feed their ravenous extending from Virginia to central Cali-
young almost exclusively on those pests fornia, and farther south in the moun-
of our grazing and grain regions, the tains.
grasshoppers, locusts, and mole-crickets. This intrepid bird has frequently been
It cannot be denied, nor is it my inten- known to chase a fowl into a farm-house
tion to palliate the charge, that certain and make its kill in an inner room (see
hawks and owls are villainous destroyers page 459). It is a forest hawk and is
of poultry, game, and beneficial birds. seldom seen far from the cover of woods.
Let it be said here in parentheses, how- It feeds on birds in preference to all
ever, that man's own self-introduced pet, other food, with rabbits as second choice.
the cat, undoubtedly kills as many little On northern game preserves it is coming
chickens and vastly more beneficial and to be a grave nuisance and has seriously
desirable birds than do all the birds of menaced the small remaining numbers of
prey in America, many times over. Heath hens on Marthas Vineyard. Its
Virtualh' all the damage of which the rarity over most of the country is its one
opponents of our birds of prey complain redeeming feature, unless we can admire
is done by five kinds of hawk and one its intrepid courage and its great beauty,
owl. The number of birds and fowls ignoring its destructiveness.
killed by the remaining eleven common The Cooper's Hawk (A. coo peri) is
hawks and five owls is so insignificant as the most important species as a destroyer
to be comparatively of no importance. of game and poultry. It is a common
The purpose of this study is not to species everywhere in North America,
cover in detail the whole performance of living the woods, whence it makes
in
the entire list of American raptorial short, swift sallies, returning immedi-
birds, and not more than two-thirds of ately with its prey. It is seldom appre-
the species are mentioned. Those that hended at work and is known chiefly by
are so rare or that dwell in such remote its accomplished depredations. It is a
or uninhabitable regions as seldom to fail bold, cunning, and destructive hawk, and
under observation are omitted, as the is, more than any other species, responsi-
family is. at best, a difficult one to de- ble for the work which has given all
scribe or treat in a simple and lucid way. hawks a bad name. \\'hile most of its
This is, of course, the reason for the daily kill is among the birds of the forest,
present confusion in the minds of all ex- it is a serious nuisance on the farm, tak-
cept real students of ornithology. Still, ing toll of 3"oung chickens, ducks, and pig-
the injustice and folly of persecuting a eons, but being hardly powerful enough
valuable family of birds for the misdeeds to tackle successfully the grown birds.
of less than a fourth of its number is This hawk can usually be told by its
so preposterous that another attempt to flight,which is accomplished by three or
clear the situation is justifiable. four sharp flaps and a short sail, repeated
of the smaller Sharpshin, whose habits which they and the nobility of their
strike
are equally destructive, but the quarry is courage, it true that they do much
is
smaller, in keeping with the size of the damage on game covers and preserves,
bird. appearing in numbers when game be-
comes abundant.
THE BIRD-KILLING EALCONS ARE NOT
The Gerfalcons are too rare to be eco-
COMMON
nomically important, but the Duck Hawk
The long-winged true falcons, which is found in small numbers all over
include the Duck Hawk or Peregrine, America and must be considered an un-
Prairie Falcon, and Pigeon Hawk, as well desirable bird. It can take care of itself,
as the powerful Gerfalcons of the far however, rarely falling to the gun and
north, are all great bird-killers, and it is avoiding traps with uncanny skill.
fortunate that they are nowhere common. In the more arid portions and in the
These splendid birds all kill on the wing, mountains of the West the pale-brown
ignoring sitting prey, and while we must Prairie Falcon is not rare. This species
admire the skill, speed, and grace with is less partial to water and feeds exten-
AMERICAN BIRDS OF PREY 463
sively on desert quail, jays, and other beneficial species outnumbers those on
birds of its inhospitable habitat. the "black list."
The Pigeon Hawk is really much like
a tiny peregrine. It can catch the fleet
THE BENEFICIAE SPECIES' (sEE COLOR
and elusive sandpipers and plover along PLATE xv)
shore and is usually encountered follow- By far the most important group of
ing the migrating flocks in spring and rodent-killing birds is the very group to
fall. This little falcon varies its diet which we have mistakenly given the com-
and improves its record by consuming mon name of "Henhawk" and "Chicken
large numbers of crickets, grasshoppers Hawk," a most unfortunate error and
and beetles, but it is a willing and capable one most difficult to undo.
ogre when song birds abound, and one It may be stated broadly that the big,
seldom comes to hand that has not plenty conspicuous hawks we see sitting, eagle-
of evidence against it in its crop. like,on tall snags above the green of the
Among the owls, the Great Horned, or woods, or in exposed positions from
"Cat Owl." does practically all the dam- which to view a large area, or sailing in
age for the family. Big, powerful, ag- broad, majestic circles high in the sum-
gressive, and fearless, he finds no diffi- mer sky, are not the ones we may blame
culty in helping himself to the farmer's for our losses, but are the ones we have
poultry whenever he feels like it, when to thank for holding in check the vast
allowed to roost outside. A
muskrat and all-but-overwhelming army of field-
trap, set baited or bare on a convenient mice and other destructive mammals
perch near the chicken yard, is a cruel which keep agriculture near to the un-
but practical way of determining who profitable point. These pests are difficult
has been thieving, though sometimes a and very expensive to fight by artificial
Barred Owl, ratting around the barns, means, and the soaring hawks are their
falls victim to this method. one great and efficient enemy.
These, then, are the real culprits, if Next come all the owls except the
placed on a profit-and-loss basis. The Great Horned, which, indeed, must have
464 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ^lAGAZINE
some credit, as he, too. kills his full share, proper names or as "Alousehawk,'' and
but in addition to a diet of valuable prey. accordingly treated.
Of the Bnteos, or "Soaring Hawks," The Broad-wing, the small member of
the big Red-tail is the commonest and this group, does not often fall into the
most widely diffused, and consequently hands of farmers and gunners, as it is a
the most important. Almost universally forest hawk that seldom leaves the shade
dubbed "Henhawk," this valuable species and shelter of the woods. Its particular
is universally persecuted and shot on claim to man's protection lies in its par-
sight. tiality to the large, fat caterpillars of the
Let us take the summary of Dr. Fish- big Cecropia, Polypheimis, and similar
er's examinations of 562 stomaches of large moths that defoliate the forest
Red-tails from all over the United States. trees. It also, of course, consumes quan-
Of these. 89 were empty, leaving 473 tities of iield-mice, voles, and shrews, and
which carried evidence. Of these, 54 small snakes are favorite food.
contained poultry or game, 278 contained The two Rough-legs feed almost exclu-
mice, 131 other mammals (28 species of sively on mice. The eastern Rough-leg
destructive mammals), t,/ batrachians or comes to the northern States only in win-
reptiles, 47 insects. 8 crabs, and 13 oftal. ter, and is not common enough to be of
If a Red-tail is caught in the act of much economic importance. Of 45 stom-
killing poultr}" it should be shot, as it "has achs of this species containing food, 40
the habit."' The above record shows contained field-mice and 5 other small
plainly, however, that the preponderance mammals.
of evidence is vastly in favor of the spe- Over all western America the Ferru-
cies, whose and appetite make it a
size ginous Rough-leg, or "Squirrel Hawk,"
most effective and valuable ally of the is a fairly common and very important
THE RED-SHOULDER SHOULD BE when they are fatal to crops. By far the
EXCni-RAGED
most effective enemy of these pestiferous
rodents is the Red Rough-leg, or "Sc[uir-
Another very common and widely dis- rel Hawk,'' and. as with the less desirable
tributed "Henhawk" is the Red-shoulder. species, it has responded to the abundance
This bird has an even better record than of food, and has within comparatively
the Red-tails. Some 200 examined re- few years become the principal check
vealed only 3 which had eaten poultry. upon the greatly increased numbers of
12 small birds, 14s mice and other inain- destructive ground-squirrels.
iiials, 92 insects, and a number with mis-
cellaneous food.
TLIE OSr'REY, OUR L.VRGEST HAWK
Mr. Alden Loring. who watched a pair The Osprey. or Fishhawk, as its name
of this species that nested near a poultry implies, feeds exclusively upon fish. It
farm, savs: "The pair reared their young is our largest hawk, being almost as im-
for two years about 50 rods from a poul- pressive on the wing as the Eagle him-
try farm containing 800 young chickens self. Its food consists almost wholly of
and 400 ducks, and the keeper told me he the sluggish fish, such as carp and suck-
had never seen the hawks attempt to ers, and it is in no sense a competitor of
catch one." This hawk
deserves to be the angler or the commercial fisherman.
encouraged and both it and
to the utmost, It is our most picturesque bird of prey
the Red-tail should be relieved of the and should by all means enjoy perfect
false title by wiiich they are so generally immunity and protection.
known and designated, either by their England, now almost without Ospreys,
466 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
© Howard H. Cleaves
would give much to rehabilitate this beau- ciently common to give a thrill to the
tiful creature if it could do so. Rut let visitor. It would seem that the mere fact
us realize that it is virtually impossible that it is the universally recognized em-
to reestablish any species when it has blem of our nation should give this fine
once become locally extinct. species protection wherever it is found in
And here let us take heed in the case America, and that no local interest, until
of another fine species, one with every thoroughly substantiated by expert Fed-
patriotic and sentimental reason for its eral investigation, should withdraw it
—
most sedulous protection the White- from the safety of complete Federal pro-
headed, or "American," Eagle. For the tection.
past year this noble species has been The Marsh Hawk has not quite so
placed upon the black list in Alaska and, clean a record of achievement as have
far from being protected, a bounty of 50 most of the foregoing, as out of 115
cents a head has been placed upon it. stomachs 41 contained bird remains, of
This had resulted, up to January, 1920, which 7 were game or poultry 79 con- ;
in the killing of some 5,000 eagles in tained small mammals, the preponderance
Alaska. of which were meadow-mice. Thus,
It is charged that eagles interfere with while it is mainly beneficial, it does kill
the salmon fisheries and kill large num- quite a proportion of feathered food.
bers of young deer, sheep, and goats, and Last, but very important, comes the
on this plea one of our most beautiful and common little Sparrowhawk. As small
interesting species is threatened with as the smallest, his abundance and wide
early extermination in the one region distribution make it necessary to reckon
where it is, or was until recently, suffi- with him. The American Sparrowhawk
AMERICAN BIRDS OF PREY 467
is a little falcon, related to the Kestrel The beautiful Snowy Owl, which comes
of Europe, but, unlike the European Spar- in winter to the northern portions of the
rowhawk, an inveterate bird-killer, re- United States, has in some curious man-
lated to our Sharpshin. Our little fal- ner had protection specifically withdrawn
con, the most ornate and beautiful of from it and stands on the list of unpro-
American hawks, is of invaluable service tected "vermin" on the game laws of the
to agriculture by virtue of his fondness land. Out of 26 evidence-bearing ex-
for grasshoppers. Occasionally he catches aminations, 20 revealed injurious mam-
a bird about a third of his diet is mice,
;
mals and II had feathers among their
but far the largest part is insects. Dur- contents. This is surely in favor of the
ing June, July, and August, when the Snowy Owl, which in winter is fre-
young are being raised, they are fed over quently seen along the seashore or on the
their weight daily on grasshoppers. ice-edge on the Great Lakes.
Theservice rendered by owls is even
A PLEA FOR THE farmer's AIR SCOUTS
less appreciated than that of hawks, be-
cause they are mostly nocturnal, and Is therenot some direct way to bring
hence are seldom heard and almost never before the agricultural and economic
seen. Owls are quite as expert mousers forces of our land their true relation to
and ratters as the diurnal birds of prey, our birds of prey?
and the Great Horned is the only one It is surely short-sighted voluntarily to
which deserves a consistently bad repu- destroy the greatest natural check on the
tation. greatest natural enemies of our greatest
The Barred Owl lives almost exclu- natural resource, and it would seem that
sively on field and white-footed mice, merely proving the point that the birds
writh chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, craw- of prey do even a little more good than
fish, and insects to vary the menu. harm would be sufficient to insure them
The Barn Owl, common all over the complete protection. But it is easy to
warmer parts of America, is exclusively show that they are, all in all, of very vast
a rodent feeder, and is lOO per cent bene- value to our rural interests, and that
ficial, while both the long-eared and their beneficial offices would be multiplied
short-eared species are in virtually the exactly in proportion to their increase
same category, the Long-ear foraging in under adequate protection.
and around the margins of wooded areas It is largely our conservatism, the un-
and the Short-ear frequenting the wet willingness to give up an idea that has
meadows and marshes for voles, shrews, long had lodgment in our minds, com-
and mice. bined with the apparently complicated
Everywhere the commonest of all, the problem of "which is which," that has
little Screech Owl, is the bird that most made the valuable species suffer from
people hear and recognize. His soft, the misdeeds of the noxious ones, until
quavering call and velvety tooting are now the situation is in many places really
familiar and welcome sounds to those who critical.
know him, for he is the one owl that can The time is not far away when one of
and does survive with the taming of the two things must happen Either proper:
land. Indeed, he seems to thrive best in and adequate protection luust be granted
the more thickly settled farming regions, and enforced, covering all birds of prey
nesting in the "woodlot" or orchard, in except the Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk,
the village parks, or in the more wooded Sharp-shinned Hawk, Pigeon Hawk,
estates in the suburbs of large cities. Duck Hawk, and Great Horned Owl, the
No bird of prey has a more varied list whole country over, or we shall soon find
of food than this smallest of our com- it too late to avail ourselves of their in-
mon owls, as the following summary will estimable services, and must find new,
show: Of 212 stomachs examined, 39 costly, and far less efficient means of
contained feathers, 112 small mammals, protecting our rural interests from the
too insects, 2 lizards, 4 batrachians, i hordes of rapidly multiplying enemies
fish, 5 spiders, 9 crawfish, 2 scorpions, that will continue, in ever-increasing
2 earthworms, and 7 "miscellaneous." numbers, to wage war upon agriculture.
468
THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN
By Alexander Wetmore
Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
The Geographic presents in this issue the fifth of a series of paintings descrip-
tiveof all important families of birds of North America. The first (Humming Birds,
Swifts, and Goatsuckers) appeared in July, igs^! the second (Ibises, Herons, and
Flamingos) in October, 1932; the third (Crows, Magpies, and Jays) in January, 1933,
and the fourth (Woodpeckers) in April, 1933. The sixth of this series will be
published in an early number of the National Geographic Magazine. Editor. —
THE eagle, symbol of bold strength
and courageous character, has been
used so widely as an emblem of
An American species of this group, the
bald eagle, is found in the design of the
coat of arms of the United States, which
power that, by name and by effigy, birds of appears on the Great Seal. representa- A
the group to which it belongs are known tion of it is blazoned on many of our
familiarly to many who have little experi- coins and decorations. It also appears
ence or conception of them in life. on the President's flag, and on the Presi-
Eagles and their many relatives among dent's seal in the bronze plate on the
the hawks and vultures are distributed floor of the vestibule of the White House.
throughout the world, except over the open The fierce harpy eagle (Harpia har-
seas, the barren Antarctic Continent, and pyja), a bird of dauntless courage, called
the smallest and most isolated of oceanic by the Aztecs "the winged wolf," is en-
islands. Wherever found, they appeal graved on the official coat of arms and
even to the novice in knowledge of things seal of Mexico and appears on the flag
outdoors because of their manner of life of that country. *It is distinguishable
and predatory habits. Robust of form from our species by its prominently
and strong in flight, they are remarked at crested head.
every appearance.
CONDOR appears ON COATS OE ARMS
The emblem of the Sumerian city of
Lagash, in the third millennium before the The great condor of South America
Christian Era, was an eagle, which was figures in the coats of arms of Colombia,
engraved on the tablets and seals of the Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile.
leaders and was carried as a military stand- The eagles and their kin form the group
ard by the army. An eagle also appeared of birds of the order Falconiformes, which
on the seal of the King of Ur, and con- includes about 288 distinct species, with
tinued in double-headed form in Hittite many additional geographic races, so that
art, on certain coins of the Mohammedans, in all there are recognized somewhat more
on the flags of Turkoman princes, and so than 700 living forms. The order is di-
on into modern times. vided into four principal families.
The eagle symbol is probably derived The hawks, kites, and their
eagles,
from forms similar to our golden eagle forming the family Accipitridae
relatives,
or closely allied to that species, as several (Plates HI through XHI), include the
species of that type are found in the re- largest number of forms. They are
gions mentioned. mainly birds of medium to large size,
To early Greeks the eagle was the mes- with broad wings, strong legs, feet armed
senger of Zeus and the only bird that with sharp claws, and strongly hooked
—
dwelt in heaven a fancy based, perhaps, bills. Many possess light-colored eyes,
on the high-flying powers of these birds. which, with their active interest in any
A silver eagle standing on a spear was movement that might indicate possible
placed on the military standards of the prey, give them a fierce and aggressive
legions of Rome, and this emblem has appearance.
been used widely as a conventional badge Although many have rapid flight, others
of military power. To-day it is a common are slower and more sluggish in habit.
decoration on flagstafifs in many countries. Most of them delight in soaring in great
43
M THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
circles high above the earth, where they hawklike in form of body and spread of
are conspicuous and are visible for long wings, have relatively weak legs and feet
distances. Some of the species of this which are not used to seize or carry prey.
family are among the largest of flying Their beaks, though strong, are not prom-
birds. inently hooked, and except for their flying
muscles these birds are far less powerful
FALCONS CAPABLE OF SWIFT FLIGHT than their relatives.
The falcons, with their relatives the These are the scavengers among birds,
caracaras, the family Falconidae (Plates for whom no food is too repulsive, that
XIV, XV, XVI), in general are smaller spend their days in scanning the surface
in size than the members of the other of the earth for dead creatures on which
group of hawks, and have longer, more they may feast. They are confined to the
pointed wings, which give them swifter Americas, the carrion-eating vultures of
flight that may be maintained at high other lands belonging to the Accipitridae.
speed for long distances. The secretary bird, the only living spe-
Though some, such as the chimangos, cies in the fourth family, Sagittariidae,
or carrion hawks, and the caracaras, may one of the most remarkable birds of the
be in part carrion feeders, the majority, entire order, stands nearly four feet high,
the true falcons, are fiercely predatory having long, slender legs like those of a
hunters, in the true sense of the word, heron. Though it has strong wings, it
whose appearance strikes terror among ordinarily runs on the ground, traveling at
other birds. The bill of the falcons, need with great swiftness. It is found only
sharply pointed at the tip, has a project- in Africa, from the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
ing tooth on the margin that is of assist- and Senegambia to Cape of Good Hope
ance in tearing their food. Province. It feeds on snakes, lizards, and
The New World vultures, family Ca- various other animals, often killing them
thartidae (Plates I and II), although by stamping on them with its feet.
THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 45
The most aberrant types in the entire flight. Years ago, in eastern Kansas, in
order are the American vultures, which the pleasant weather of October, it was
are far removed from the hawks and usual to encounter flights of red-tailed
eagles and in some ways have peculiarities and American rough-legged hawks, in
that set them off from most other birds. which these splendid birds drifted steadily
Aside from the peculiar types just men- across the sky for hours in never-ending
tioned, the various species of this order procession. Occasionally, attracted by
are fairly uniform in build and form, rising currents of air over some hill slope,
differing principally in length of legs, they paused to wheel in enormous spirals.
grasping power of claws, and size and
degree of robustness of bill. Thus, the
MIGRATION OF SOME HAWKS SPECTACULAR
bill of the eagle is strong and heavy, but Often I lay on soft grass, in the warm
that of the everglade kite is extremely sun, watching several hundred of these
slender and elongated. hawks turning slowly through the sky,
The bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecau- some at such an elevation that they looked
datus) has the tail so short that it does no larger than swallows. On occasion I
—
not project beyond the wings an anomaly have seen similar flights of the Swainson's
in a group that as a whole has long, strong hawk of the western Plains, these birds
tail feathers. In spite of this peculiarity, traveling in bands on migrations that carry
the bateleur sails with ease, using its wings them far into South America.
as planes, though it is said to have diffi- The migration flights of the sharp-
culty in keeping aloft when there are no shinned and Cooper's hawks in the East
wind or air currents to assist it. are better known, though they are seen
One of the striking phenomena of some only in favored localities. Point Pelee,
of our American hawks has been the fall which projects as a long peninsula from
migrations, in which hundreds, or even the Canadian shore of Lake Erie, for
thousands, move together in southward many years has been famous for its hawk
46 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
in spring the birds
seem to travel north-
ward over wider
areas.
At a number of
places it regular
is
© Wright M. Pierce
COASTING HOME
The American osprey is a strong and graceful flyer. When about to land at the nest he
sets his wings and coasts in (see "The Nest Life of the Osprey," by Capt. C. W. R. Knight,
in the National Geographic Magazine for August, 1932).
© Press Cliche
TRIBESMIJN 01? RUSSIAN CENTRAL ASIA SET OEF FOR A DAY'S SPORT WITH
THEIR HUNTING EAGLES
Jili^rl(?PiiRii K-
Photograph by Dr. A. A. Allen
SWALLOW-TAIIvBD KITES SOAR AND CIRCLE AI<OI?T WITH BUOYANT GRACE
So well provided with wing and tail surface are these larger prototypes of the barn
swallows that they spend nearly all of their time in the air. They even feed in the air, often
on small water snakes, which they deftly snatch from among the reeds and devour aloft.
On one occasion a pair of duck hawks One pleasant afternoon in fall I heard
harried a helpless nighthawk, stooping at a great roaring of wings overhead and
it playfully until one in passing gave it a lopked up to see a cormorant that a few
quick squeeze with one foot. It then minutes before had been soaring peace-
allowed the nighthawk to fall, when it fully high in air, dashing down with set
was seized by the other duck hawk. Then wings toward the river, with a duck hawk
the pair flew away, and the one with the a few feet behind. Just above the water
booty at intervals dropped it, so that it the hawk suddenly accelerated, tapped the
could be seized in air by its mate. cormorant lightly on the back, then cir-
cled easily away, while the frightened
THE DUCK HAWK A PRACTICAL JOKER quarry took refuge unharmed in the water.
When not hungry, the duck hawk, feel- Frequently falcons at play dashed at top
ing its superior strength, frequently in- speed through milling flocks of flying
dulges in harmless play at the expense of sandpipers, scattering them like leaves in
its bird neighbors. the wind, but not striking any of them.
Often I have seen them flying along the The food of birds of the hawk group is
river channels, driving ahead of them a highly varied, though it is taken entirely
motley flock of blackbirds, herons, avocets, from the animal kingdom. The larger
and other birds, herding them in disorder species of falcons subsist mainly on various
like sheep, but without offering to harm kinds of birds and small mammals, but the
them. Again, as night herons flew ahead smaller kinds, such as sparrow hawks and
of my launch, a duck hawk would dart at falconets, eat lizards, grasshoppers and
them repeatedly, forcing them down lower other insects, and mice. The common
and lower, until finally, with protesting red-tailed hawks and their allies, known
squawks, they struck the water. They universally as "chicken hawks," may on
were not allowed to rise, but had to swim occasion eat birds or even visit hen-yards
into the shelter of the willows to escape. for prey, but confine their attention prin-
THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 51
52 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
The food passes
down into a stomach
that is thin-walled
and capable of con-
siderable distention,
and in the throat
there is developed a
distensible crop that
amount
holds a large
of food until the
stomach is ready to
receive it.
AFTER FIVE WEEKS IN THE NEST, YOUNG DUCK HAWKS TEST THEIR WINGS
As soon as feathers began to develop, the young birds flapped their wings vigorously,
often tipping themselves over in the process and sending bits of down flying in all directions.
This nest is near Hanover, New Hampshire.
i
56
THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 57
charge of shot, and they are killed in many with the excuse that they were providing
localitiesby setting steel traps on the tops more game for men to kill. Nowadays,
of posts or poles that the birds utilize as with nature lovers, who do not hunt, equal-
perches. ing sportsmen in numbers, some consider-
In England it is the duty of game- ation may be given to the rights of those
keepers to kill all "vermin" that appear who enjoy seeing hawks alive and study-
on the property under their charge, hawks ing their interesting ways, aside from the
being included in this category. On a value that most of these birds have from
large estate near the Thames I once saw a their beneficial food habits.
58 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
ABILITY OF EAGLES TO
CARRY WEIGHT
EXAGGERATED
The carrying or lift- Photograph by Charles Martin
ing power of hawks
A SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR WHOSE PERMANENT RESI-
and eagles has been DENCE IS WASHINGTON, D. C.
frequently exagger-
ated. The largest This monarch of the Andes is one of the prime attractions in the
fine collection of birds,animals, and reptiles housed in the National
eagles can carry off Zoological Park. The bare skin of his head, neck, and caruncle is
young lambs and dull red, and contrasts sharply with the white "fur" collar and dark
fawns, but in these plumage.
the weight not is
great. In observations in Montana, Cam- The hawk tribe consists of fierce, ag-
eron found that the golden eagle could gressive birds, and there is widespread
bear away jack rabbits that weighed seven belief in stories of eagles attempting to
pounds or more. One seized and bore carry off children. Probably such tales are
aloft a small cat, but dropped it quickly based in the main on the fierce manner in
when the cat realized its plight and got which these birds often swoop at those
into action. who intrude near their nests.
Larger prey may be killed, but it is eaten In Greek mythology we read the fan-
on the spot and not carried away. Though ciful story of Ganymede, the beautiful
the strongest eagles may be able to raise Phrygian shepherd boy who was carried
a weight of lO or 12 pounds, it is doubtful off by an eagle to Olympus to serve as cup-
whether they could carry this for more bearer to the gods. Also, in every moun-
than a few feet. tainous country where there are eagles.
60 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
there are current stories of the predatory of huge size. The legend may be based on
attacks of these birds on children. former wide distribution of the California
Possibly in primitive times, if small condor, or possibly on the extinct condor
babies were left exposed, an eagle might known as Teratornis merriami, a huge bird
have attacked them, just as it would a kid whose bones are found in Ice Age fossil
or a lamb under the same circumstances deposits in California and Florida.
but such a happening in the present day
would be quite improbable. SOME HAWKS WHISTIvE, CHATTER. AND
In the Philippine Islands the powerful
EAUGH
monkey-eating eagle (Pithecophaga jef- The voice of most hawks is a harsh
feryi), a bird weighing from i6 to 20 sound that in many instances is as wild in
pounds, is believed by the natives to attack tone as the fierce birds themselves. Ut-
men. R. C. McGregor was told of an tered as they float on broad pinions high
instance where one of these birds, in pro- in air, the weird cadences of their screams
tecting its nest, killed a Negrito but he ; seem fitting and appropriate to the spread-
did not place entire credence in the story, ing landscapes they survey. Some species
as it came to him through hearsay. utter piercing whistles, others chattering
When their nests are disturbed, falcons calls. In some the notes are quite pleas-
and other hawks swoop fiercely at the ing, though none possesses what might be
heads of intruders, and on occasion may termed a song. The adult turkey vulture
actually strike a climber and cut him with is entirely silent except for a hiss, though
their claws. But such attacks are usually the young are vociferous.
more threatening than serious, though they The strangest notes that I have heard
are executed with a vicious dash that from birds of this group have come from
might well frighten the timorous. the handsome laughing falcons (Herpe-
Among the Indians of North America totheres cachinnans) of the American
is a widespread belief in a "thunder bird" Tropics. My first experience with these
THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 61
birdswas in the Argentine Chaco near the cons that were found everywhere through
Pilcomayo River, at that time a wild the forests.
region where ranchers were just beginning The flight and appearance of hawks and
to invade the territory of the primitive other birds, and certain of their anatomical
Toba Indians. features, were used by the augurs of
On my evening in this remote sec-
iirst ancient Rome in their prophecies of the
tion, I was engaged at twiHght in setting future.
traps for little animals at the edge of a
INDIANS USE EAGLE FEATHERS AS
forest. I remained on the alert for any
ADORNMENT
possible dangers in a country that was
new to me, as many tales had been told A more practical use of these birds was
regarding the Indians. found among the North American Indians,
Suddenly, through the trees a hundred particularly of the Plains and Pueblo
yards away, came a loud shouting sound, groups, when beautiful headdresses were
repeated steadily, then varied at short in- made from the large feathers of the golden
tervals with a series of other calls, all eagle, and other ornaments and decora-
uttered in curiously human tones. After tions were fashioned from the smaller
a minute or two, another voice joined the feathers of this bird and from the feathers
first, and the two called rapidly in a strange of hawks. The downy bases of the eagle
medley that left me completely puzzled as feathers sometimes were twisted in strands
to whether the authors were bird, beast, or that were woven into feather blankets of a
human, as I crouched among the bushes, peculiar and interesting type. Hawks and
gun in hand, with my skin tingling pleas- eagle claws were used to make necklaces
antly at the thrill of the unknown in a and other decorations.
strange and possibly dangerous land. The Pueblo Indians kept hawks in cap-
It was a day or two later that I traced tivity, as they did turkeys and macaws,
these weird, unearthly duets to the large, presumably to use their feathers in their
white-headed, bushy-crested laughing fal- prayers and decorations. Numbers of
63 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
bones of eagles and hawks were found in heavy birds are carried afield perched on
the excavations of the National Geographic horses or on stands swung between two
Society at Pueblo Bonito. In some cases horses. In some cases they rest on a heavy
certain rooms seem to have been given up leathern gauntlet on the forearm of the
to these birds. hunter, whose arm is supported in a
Occasionally hawks have been eaten for forked stick resting in the stirrup (p. 48).
human food, but this is not a widespread Scenes depicting hunting with hawks
practice. In Puerto Rico and Haiti I are found among the ancient paintings in
found that in some sections the natives the tombs of Egypt, and this sport was
considered the red-tailed hawk an excellent well known in India, Asia, and Europe
meat. The sharp-shinned hawk is eaten at a very early date. Practiced originally
occasionally in the United States. From to obtain wild game for food, it finally
personal experience I can say that they developed into the sport of the nobility and
have a fair flavor. the wealthy. Though it fell into decadence
with the development of gunpowder and
HAWKS USED BY MAN IN HUNTING guns, it is even practiced to-day in a limited
From the earliest times of which we way, both abroad and in our own country.
have record, hawks of various kinds have Though most birds of the hawk group
been trained by man for use in hunting.* range from large to medium in size, there
For this purpose young hawks are taken is considerable variation in this respect.
from the nest, or adult birds are trapped The smallest are the little falconets of
alive. In either case, the birds are accus- the Indian region and Africa. They are
tomed to man and his ways and are trained not much larger than bluebirds, but are
to come to be fed until they are tame and as fierce as the largest falcons. They eat
can be handled. They have the eyes cov- many insects and also kill small birds and
ered with a soft leather hood and thongs mammals. They have been known to kill
attached to their legs, by which they may birds four times their own weight, and are
be tethered if desired. In hunting, trained so aggressive that in captivity they often
hawks are taken afield until game is dominate other hawks much larger and
sighted, when the hood is removed, so that stronger.
the hawk may sight the quarry. The largest members of the group are
As it flies, the hawk ordinarily maneu- the larger vultures of the Old World and
vers so as to rise and strike down at the the condors of America, which reach a
game from above. In the case of wily, length of 40 to 50 inches, with a spread
fast-flying birds, there is often a prolonged of wings that is broad in proportion.
pursuit, in which only the most skillful The nests and eggs of hawks vary widely
hawk may hope to be victorious. in location and appearance. The majority
The peregrine falcon, distributed over build nests of sticks and branches in trees,
most of the world, has been a favorite with where they are often located at a con-
hawkers, because it is fierce and at the siderable height from the ground. Some
same time is tractable in training. Sev- of the larger eagles and vultures nest on
eral other falcons have been used, but to clififs and rock ledges, where the sites may
less extent. be reached only by the boldest of climbers.
These birds prey in swift
kill their Marsh hawks nest on the ground in
a quick blow with
flight in air, striking prairie or marsh regions sparrow hawks
;
the foot that knocks the victim end over occupy holes in trees. Falcons lay their
end and frequently kills it outright. The eggs in cavities in the face of clififs, or,
goshawk is also used in hunting. This in some species like the hobby {Falco
species kills in short, swift flight, bears its subbuteo) of Europe, occupy the aban-
prey to the ground, and holds fast with its doned nests of other hawks or of rooks
long claws until its quarry is dead. and similar birds.
Among native peoples of Central Asia, In some species the same nesting site is
the golden eagle is trained to hunt small used for many years in succession. Since
antelopes, foxes, and even wolves. These new material is added annually to the nest,
* See "Falconry, the Sport of Kings," by Louis in many cases it may grow to huge propor-
Agassiz Fuertes, in the National Geographic tions. This is especially true with birds
Magazini; for December, 1920. like the ospreys and eagles.
THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 63
The eggs of this group are moderate in The eggs of most falcons are heavily
size relative to the bulk of the parent, par- spotted with reddish brown, being among
ticularly when the larger species are con- the most handsomely and richly marked
sidered. They have strong, heavy shells, known.
usually with roughly granular surface. Many species exhibit considerable di-
In some instances the eggs are plain white, versity in the extentand amount of mark-
bluish white, or greenish white, but in most ings, the eggs in some cases varying from
there are markings of brown, which ap- plain white without markings to those that
pear slaty where overlaid by a thin film have the background completely obscured
of the calcareous shell. by a heavy wash of warm color.
64 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
CALIFORNIA CONDOR on fresh meat, and some individuals, when
Gymnogyps calif ornianus) accustomed to this ration, have refused to
(
take flesh that was at all tainted.
The
California condor shares with the
The size of the California condor is in-
condor of South America the honor of dicated by its wing spread, which ranges
being the largest hving hawklike bird by actual measurement from 8 feet 4
found in the New World, exceeding in size inches to 9 feet 9 inches. There are nu-
the largest of the eagles, and being much merous reports of birds with a breadth of
larger than its relatives, the turkey and wing in excess of the maximum given, but
black vultures. these seem to be based on estimate and
Formerly quite abundant, according to have not been substantiated. Though many
recent estimate by Mr. Harry Harris, statements that attribute larger size to the
possibly ten individuals still exist in Cali- South American condor have been made,
fornia. Little is known of them in Baja authentic measurements indicate that it and
California, save that Indians hunt them for the California condor are similar in size.
ceremonial purposes. But it is certain that The California condor places its single
few remain, and the species is one that egg on the bare surface in a recess, cave,
may easily become extinct. or pothole on a rocky cliff, often in a
days past, the California condor
In cavern formed by leaning slabs of stone,
ranged into open valleys and other regions and formerly was reported nesting in hol-
where it was easily accessible, but, to see low tree trunks and hollow logs. The
it now, it is usually necessary to penetrate e.gg, found from January to March, is
the wildest and most difficult mountain white with a bluish or greenish tinge, and
sections. measures about 4J^ by 2^ inches, or about
the size of the egg of the domestic goose.
CONDORS ARE EASILY DISTINGUISHED
The young when hatched are covered
By those who penetrate its haunts, the with white down, except for the head,
condor is confused with no other bird. which is bare. From captive individuals
Straining eyes may examine distant eagles itappears that these birds are not adult
and turkey buzzards, but when a condor is until they are more than three years old.
sighted there is no mistaking it for its Young birds utter curious hissing, growl-
smaller relatives. Its enormous size and ing calls, but adults are silent.
the broad sweep of its wings distinguish it The nestlings grow slowly and are under
almost at a glance when it is far distant. parental care for about six months before
When nearer at hand it is marked by they are able to fly. They seem to have
prominent white patches on the under side greater longevity than most birds, since
of the wings. three living in captivity in the National
The condor uses soaring flight as con- Zoological Park in Washington, D. C, are
sistently as does the turkey vulture, but now thirty years or more old.
is more a master of the air and can travel
at higher speed. The birds range widely AGES AGO THIS MIGHTY BIRD RANGED EAST
over the mountains, but seem to have cer-
TO FEORIDA
tain limits within which they may be found The California condor in historic times
at all seasons of the year. Several may ranged from the Columbia River south
occur together, except during the nesting along the western slopes of the Sierra
season, when they separate into pairs and Nevada, and from Humboldt County, in
resent intrusion of others. the same State, through the Coast Ranges
Although not ordinarily quarrelsome, it into northern Baja California, extending
is said that, when provoked, the condor can casually into Oregon, Washington, and
drive the golden eagle from its haunts. southeastern California.
The food of the condor is composed of It is now confined to the Coast Ranges
the flesh of dead animals, either fresh or in in northern Ventura County, southwestern
a state of decay. The feet are not adapted Kern County, and southeastern Santa
for seizing, but the birds hold down their Barbara County, and to the San Pedro
food while they tear it apart with their Martir Range of northern Baja Cali-
strong bills. A
diet of carrion would seem fornia. Its bones are found in ancient
to be taken partly because the birds have caves in Texas, Nevada, and New Mex-
no other choice. In captivity they are fed ico, and in Ice Age deposits in Florida.
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES
© National Geographic Society Th li^in i irdMiii iLeK III u Mill II ilural bize
CALIFORNIA CONDOR
Bird on perch and one flying ne:ir by, adults; upper and lower Hying figures, immature
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
n
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 67
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
Perched and flying adults, above
III
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
rv
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 71
This fine bird, under the name of This common cousin of the red-tail
"chicken hawk," is universally known, as ranges in wooded country, and can main-
it is conspicuous and widely distributed, tain itself where groves and trees border
although ranging by preference in hilly or cultivated fields. Though it delights in
mountainous regions where there are for- soaring, it seems somewhat less active
ests. It is strong and graceful on the than the red-tail. It may be distinguished
wing and spends hours in soaring in wide on the wing by the narrow barring of the
circles, sometimes so high in the air as under-wing surface.
to be almost out of sight. Its flight is not The food is highly varied, including
particularly swift, and it often rests for mice, rats, snakes, frogs, fish, large in-
long periods on limbs or the tops of dead sects, centipedes, spiders, crayfish, earth-
trees, where it has a commanding view. worms, and snails. It seems to take even
The red-tail is preeminently a mouse fewer birds than the red-tail, and only
hawk, meadow mice particularly being a occasional individuals acquire the chicken-
staple article in its diet. It also eats other killing habit or attack game birds. There
mice, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, kangaroo are numerous instances on record where
rats, wood rats, moles and shrews, has these birds have nested in woods adjacent
been known to attack skunks, and also to hen-yards without attempting in any
kills snakes and lizards. In summer and way to molest the poultry.
fall, particularly in the Western States, it On the whole, this hawk should be pro-
consumes many grasshoppers when these tected, though many are wantonly killed
appear in pestilential abundance. by hunters, so that the species is decreasing
Ground-inhabiting birds are eaten at in many localities.
times, but, on the whole, the red-tail is
distinctly beneficial, meriting protection
"red-shoulders" nest high or i,ow
except where some individual acquires the The nest of the "red-shoulder" is made
habit of eating chickens. In spite of the of twigs, placed in trees often at a con-
good that it does, it is shot on every occa- siderable elevation, but occasionally as low
sion and has been so reduced in many sec- as i8 or 20 feet. The number of eggs in
tions of the eastern United States that it a set varies from two to six, with three or
is now a rare bird. four as the usual number. These are white,
The nest of the red-tail
is a large struc- sometimes with a yellowish or bluish tinge,
ture of sticks, sometimes with a slight lin- marked with shades of brown and gray.
ing of soft materials. The eggs vary from Eggs without markings are rare.
two to four, being creamy white, occa- The calls of the red-shouldered hawk
sionally unmarked, but ordinarily spotted are loud, wailing screams that may be
with shades of brown. In the South these heard for some distance. They are mim-
birds begin to nest in February, the nest- icked by the bluejay so perfectly that it is
ing period being governed in the North by often difificult to distinguish the imitation.
the date of the opening of spring. The northern red-shouldered hawk, Bu-
The voice is a high-pitched scream, a tco lineatus lineatus, ranges from south-
stirring sound usually being given as the ern Canada to southern Kansas and North
birds circle high in the air. The imma- Carolina, migrating to the Gulf coast in
ture bird in the first fall has the tail brown, winter. The Florida red-shoulder, Buteo
barred with blackish. I. alleni, which
smaller, nests from Okla-
is
This is one of the species that formerly homa and South Carolina to Louisiana
appeared in southward migration in abun- and southeastern Florida.
dance, but the soaring flocks of early days The insular red-shoulder, Buteo I. ex-
are now things of the past and each year timus, still smaller and paler in color, is
the birds seem to become fewer. found in the Florida Keys.
In wide range from Alaska through
its The Texas red-shoulder, Buteo I. tex-
central to Nova Scotia and south
Canada anus, with richer color below, nests from
through the United States, the red-tail is southern Texas to Tamaulipas; and the
divided into five geographic races, and red-bellied hawk, Buteo I. elegans, with
other forms are found in the West Indies more rufous below, is found in California
and Central America. and northwestern Baja California.
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES
^C'.Kh
4-
V^.'iS SbV~ Cv,Vit
^'^^^^^
, nci . WiU VII
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
/
V-
,V
i/'
it'l^_r/S^~;jt^t -
5 ,Tx aU ,,
w*^!;^
>*«^A) Ai^^A ^^^V"-A i
ri'?-
vm
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 79
Swampy woodlands and broken country and unsuspicious, allowing close approach
covered with forests are favorite haunts without taking alarm.
of this species, and as the trees are cleared The food of this hawk is varied and in-
it decreases in abundance. cludes more insects than usual in a bird of
It is entirely inoffensive in its habits. its size. feeds extensively on grass-
It
Except in migration, comparatively few hoppers in summer and fall, and also
late
are shot, as most depart for the South be- eats mice, rats, lizards, snakes, frogs, and
fore the season for fall hunting. rabbits. Though on rare occasions it may
The food is mainly mice and other small attack poultry, it is considered one of the
mammals, frogs, reptiles, and insects. It most valuable hawks in the West in its
eats small fish occasionally, but seldom relation to agriculture.
takes birds. Large caterpillars are a reg- Swainson's hawk nests in trees or on
ular item in its diet. It is partial to grass- cliffs, where its bulky home, composed of
hoppers, crickets, and large beetles, and sticks, isoften visible at a distance. The
has been known to eat centipedes. It eggs, varying from two to four, are green-
must be considered beneficial and worthy ish white or yellowish white, spotted with
of every protection. brown and lavender, occasionally being
The nests of the broad-wing are con- without markings.
structed of twigs, placed in a large tree,
often at a considerable elevation. Green
HAWK AND SONG BIRD NEST IN SAME TREE
leaves are often found in the nest, and In the regions of scanty tree growth in-
some birds add fresh leaves to the nest habited by these hawks, it is a regular oc-
lining nearly every day. The eggs range currence to find an isolated tree with nests
in number from two to five, with two or of several species of birds clustered in it.
three as the usual number. They are dull Western kingbirds and Bullock's orioles
grayish white, or occasionally greenish, often nest within a few feet of the large
spotted more or less extensively with dif- structure made by Swainson's hawk, and
ferent shades of brown and lavender. all live in harmony. Indeed, the home of a
Occasionally these birds will dash at an kingbird has been found located among the
intruder. I remember distinctly, as a coarse sticks in the base of the hawk's nest.
small boy, the start that one of these hawks In migration, both north and south,
gave me by swooping at my head as I sat these hawks often gather in straggling
on a limb beside its nest, high above the bands, from 500 to 2,000 birds having been
ground, admiring the eggs and the nest noted in such groups.
construction. The ordinary call is a shrill, This hawk, like some of its relatives,
double-noted whistle high in pitch, which has distinct light and dark color phases,
is accompanied by chattering, scolding these being illustrated in the flying birds of
notes. the opposite plate. Swainson's hawk has
The birds vary considerably in color and three of the outer primaries with the inner
markings and occasional individuals are webs cut out or indented near the tip, and
found that are entirely black. the red-tail has four. This difference will
The broad- winged hawk nests from cen- always serve to distinguish these birds in
tral Alberta, New Brunswick, and Nova the hand.
Scotia south to the Gulf coast and central This species breeds from British Co-
Texas. It migrates south to northwestern lumbia, Great Slave Lake, and Manitoba
South America, wintering mainly from south to northern Mexico, and is found in
southern Florida and southern Mexico winter in South America. Stragglers have
southward. Allied races are found in the been taken at many points in the Eastern
islands of the Lesser Antilles. States.
80 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEGGED /
(Buteo lagopus s.johannis)
HAWK
(Buteo regalis)
From its summer home in the north, the
American rough-leg comes into the United This handsome hawk, so large that it
States in fall migration, often traveling is often called an eagle, is found in regions
in flocks. As the name indicates, the of prairies and plains, avoiding heavy tim-
rough-legged hawks differ from our other ber. It lives only in the western part of
species in having the leg feathered to the our continent, and in uninhabited sections
toes. still remains fairly common. However,
The American rough-leg is large and when an increase in agriculture takes place
powerfully built, but, in spite of its in any part of its nesting ground, it is
strength, it feeds principally on mice, lem- crowded out.
mings in the north and meadow mice in In of its range it is known as
much
the south being staple foods. Rabbits are "squirrel hawk," as ground squirrels and
eaten where they are abundant, and large prairie dogs form a considerable part of
insects, such as grasshoppers, are eaten its food. It also eats many pocket gophers.
occasionally. The bird is entirely harm- Birds, particularly meadowlarks, are cap-
less, as it seldom kills other birds or tured during the summer season, and an
poultry. occasional grouse may be taken, but these
This hawk nests in the far north, rang- hawks are not known to hai'm poultry.
ing there in open country, seldom coming They also eat large snakes. They are
into densely forested areas. The nests are considered beneficial because of their de-
composed of sticks, the cavity lined with struction of harmful mammals.
dr}^ grass and feathers, and are built on Frequently hunting in pairs, they cap-
ledges along bluffs or are placed in trees. ture game that might otherwise escape.
The same location may be used for years, In hunting prairie dogs, the hawks rest
and the nest grows in bulk until it is of until the animal is away from its burrow,
large size. when one gets between the prairie dog and
Eggs are two to five in number, with its hole, thereby making capture an easy
three or four making the usual set. They matter. The birds are strong and pow-
are pale greenish white, fading to dingy erful and can carry rabbits to their nests
white, spotted and blotched with brown of with ease.
different shades, and shell markings of The on cliffs, on sloping
nests are placed
lavender and gray. One brood is reared hillsides, or in trees, sometimes in locali-
each season. ties difficult of access, sometimes where
they can be approached without trouble.
FEATHER EEGGINGS KEEP OUT THE COLD They are often occupied for years, and
Thebirds vary considerably in colora- occasionally grow to large size, Taverner
tion fromlight to dark, but may always recording one about ten feet high. They
be distinguished by the feathered legs, or are composed of sticks, those in the base
tarsi. The feather growth is heavy, par- being often of large size, with a lining of
ticularly in fall and winter, so that the grass and other soft materials.
severest cold may be withstood. In the The eggs are two to five and are green-
West they remain in the Northern States ish or creamy white, blotched and spotted
during the coldest weather of winter. handsomely with brown and lavender.
The note, heard mainly during the nest- One brood is reared each season.
ing season, is a low mewing call, suggest- On their nesting grounds these hawks
ing the sound made by a young kitten. utter screaming calls that have been lik-
The American rough-leg nests from the ened to those of eagles, and the young
Aleutian Islands, the Arctic coast of are said to be quite vociferous.
Alaska, and northern Quebec, south to The ferruginous rough-leg breeds from
northern Alberta and Newfoundland. In southern Alberta and Manitoba to north-
winter it is found from southern British eastern California, New
Mexico, and Kan-
Columbia, Colorado, and southern On- sas. It is found
winter from California
in
tario south to southern California, Texas, and Montana to Baja California and
and North Carolina. Closely allied races northern Mexico, and has been observed
are found in Europe and Asia. casually in Wisconsin and Illinois.
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES
Upper; ordinary light phase; adult perched, Lower; adult in light phase (left),
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IX
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
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X
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 83
inhabitant of wild and unfrequented areas. are prevalent through the extensive range
From its great expanse of wing it is read- occupied by golden eagles in both Old and
ily identified. The bald eagle in immature New Worlds.
dress is the only bird with which it might During most of the year golden eagles
be confused, but as these two ordinarily are undemonstrative, but in the nesting
range in different types of country, there season they call in shrill, high-pitched
opportunity to mistake them.
is little tones, and the male often tumbles in the
The golden eagle has feathers extend- air somewhat like the male marsh hawk.
ing clear to the toes, but in the bald eagle This is accomplished from a high eleva-
the lower part of the leg is covered with tion by suddenly closing the wings and
hard scales. This difiference serves to dis- dropping headfirst toward the earth,
tinguish the two
any plumage.
in checking the fall just before reaching the
Where dogs are present in large
prairie ground then rising again to repeat the
;
<(^M
^//an/3ra0/& .
GOLDEN EAGLE
Adult on ground, immature flying
cv
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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
BALD EAGLE
AilultDei'checl, immature flying:
Adult Dei'ched, imniature ^ v -» . /->*>»
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XII
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 87
OSPREV
Two bald eagles Hying above
XIII
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
xw
d^
A V:A\-efs
EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 91
tute a complete set, three or four being the cupy mesquites and other trees, and in
customary complement. The ground color Arizona giant cacti are sometimes selected.
of the eggs is creamy white, more or less The nests are bulky masses of twigs,
overlaid with a suffusion of cinnamon, and weeds, coarse grass, leaves, and Spanish
blotches of reddish brown and chocolate. moss, usually piled together in an untidy
They are considerably paler than the eggs manner. The eggs number two or three,
of the duck hawk. the ground color being creamy white when
The prairie falcon feeds on birds of it is visible. Most eggs have the entire
various kinds, blackbirds, horned larks, surface obscured by a wash of cinnamon
mourning doves, and others of similar size rufous and blotches of reddish brown.
being favorites. It captures quail and This bird eats lizards, snakes, frogs, and
prairie chickens on occasion, and also se- small turtles, and also takes small mam-
cures domestic pigeons where flocks of mals. It is fond of rabbits, cotton rats and
these are found within its range. other mice, and grasshoppers and other
I have seen them harry colonies of yel- large insects. Crabs and crayfish, too, are
low-headed blackbirds so mercilessly that on its bill of fare.
these unfortunates set up a loud outcry The caracara is also partial to carrion of
whenever a falcon appeared in the dis- all kinds, and frequently comes to car-
tance. The prairie falcon also feeds on casses on which vultures are feeding. The
mammals, taking gophers, ground squir- caracaras make the larger birds stand
rels, and various kinds of rats and mice. aside, as they are strong and aggressive,
In addition, it takes insects, particularly striking with both bill and feet. On the
grasshoppers when these are abundant. coast of Texas caracaras have been seen
In feeding, these hawks sometimes in pursuit of brown pelicans to make them
watch from cliffs or open perches in trees disgorge fish that they had swallowed.
until suitable prey appears, or again fly Caracaras are active on the ground, their
lightly and gracefully along, traveling long legs and relatively short claws en-
rather swiftly as they hunt. They have abling them to walk and run with ease.
been known to harry marsh hawks and Their voices are peculiar rattling, creak-
make these birds drop their prey. The ing, screaming calls, in uttering which the
falcon seizes its booty in the air as it falls. birds frequently throw the head backward
About their nesting cliffs these falcons until it touches the back.
are quite noisy, uttering shrill screams and On Guadalupe Island, Mexico, off the
cackling calls when disturbed. At other western coast of Baja California, there
seasons they are mainly silent. was formerly found the Guadalupe cara-
The prairie falcon nests from southern cara, Polyborus lutosits. The last of this
British Columbia to Baja California and species was recorded about 1905.
southern Mexico, extending east to the Audubon's caracara nests from north-
eastern border of the Great Plains. It is ern Baja California, southwestern Ari-
casual in occurrence in Manitoba, Minne- zona, central and southern Florida, and
sota, and Illinois. Cuba south through Mexico and Central
A related species is found in the South- America. It has been recorded acciden-
west, the aplomado falcon {Falco fusco- tally in Ontario. An allied race occurs in
coerulescens scptcntrionalis) northern South America.
92 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
GYRFALCON "
XV
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
) National Geoffraphii.
raphii. Society , - a XpIHti nil i[(
[( !\ si\lh natural size
tinp si
tine
ISV" An
^lOEOIJ IIAWKJ
Ul'ipcr; male (ri,!L,'hl) Lower; adull male (right),
female in nesting- hole imiiiaLure female (leit)
GIGANTIC STONES WHICH HAD BEEN PLACED AS COVERS OVER MANY TOMBS
AT RAS SHAMRA PROVED SERIOUS OBSTACLES TO THE EXCAVATORS
MORE THAN 3,300 YEARS AGO THESE JUGS OF WINE AND OIL WERE BURIED
WITH A SYRIAN KING FOR HIS USE IN ANOTHER WORLD
MY FLIGHT FROM HAWAII 609
fresher. However,
they still concerned stant communication of radio, it is not at
mariners' weather. Nautical observers are all impossible, with proper preparation, to
not equipped or trained to give information command a picture of upper-air conditions
exactly as jlyers wish it. What does a prevaUing at any given hour over even
sailor care about the height of clouds or extended routes. One can also forecast
how the winds blow at 10,000 feet? what will "come in" during the time elapsed
The meteorological assistance rendered in the making of a flight.
me on the Pacific flight indicated the ac-
curacy that can be attained in the science PLYING THE ATLANTIC AND THE PACIFIC
with trained personnel and a new theory of The western frontier of the United States
forecasting. lies 2,400 miles the from
mainland.
In Honolulu wa^
fortunate in obtain-
I Though water is several hun-
this stretch of
ing the cooperation of Lieutenant E. W. dred miles greater than the shortest land-
Stephens, U. S. Navy, aerological officer at to-land distance of the North Atlantic, it
Pearl Harbor. Lieutenant Stephens, who probably presents less formidable hazards
was responsible for plotting the weather for for the flyer. Of course, no definite state-
the Navy's successful flight to Hawaii a ments on can be made until after
this score
year previously, worked with us early and considerable research on weather and more
late. Ten days before the take-off he con- actual flight data are recorded. Further,
structed a hypothetical weather map em- what is applicable to an individual flight
bracing much of the Pacific Ocean and such as mine does not necessarily hold true
western America. That chart a thing of — for transport operation.
highs and lows, swirling isobars, barometer For general comparisons North Atlantic
and temperature readings, wind direction^ and mid-Pacific weather disturbances are
—
and velocities he made as he felt it should similarly severe at times, but probably ice-
be when I started. \ formation danger is greater over the At-
Then we waited gods of weather
for the lantic. The shortest course from America
to adjust their caprices throughout this tdy Europe, followed by most flyers so far,
far-flung territory so that their handiwork ha^ been somewhat north of the normal
would at least approximately match our steaii^er lanes. From Honolulu to San
ideal. Francisco or Los Angeles the route lies
611
612 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
sea level (see page 617). The two previous Their rich coloring reminded me of the
years the eggs had been stolen by "party or description once given by a small boy I had
parties unknown," and the falcons, without lowered over a bluff to report on the con-
laying a second time, had frequented the tents of another falcon's nest.
various cliffs in the neighborhood for the "Four eggs," he called.
rest of each summer and well into the fall. "What color?" I asked.
This time, although the day was April 1, "Gee, I don't know!" Then, after a
we were not fooled. moment's pause, "Just the color that makes
Our sudden appearance over the crest you want to reach out and grab them!
of the ridge was greeted by a slight move- Even the protracted screaming and high
ment on the ledge and a long and angry flying of the female had not brought back
scream. There, across the canyon, but not the male, who was probably absent on some
SO yards away and almost level with us, distant hunt but when the cliff was revisited
;
was the falcon, rising slowly from its eggs in the afternoon he appeared quickly in
and screaming an angry protest. Running answer to her short alarm cry, and circled
a few steps, she launched out from the edge and screamed overhead at a great rate.
of the ledge and circled above us, screaming. He was overburdened with a tremen-
Once or twice she set sail, as if to return dously full crop, however. This made him
to the nest, but changed her mind and re- look like a pouter pigeon, shortened his
mained on the wing. breath, and forced him to rest on the dead
limb of an oak tree down the canyon. The
AT LAST —THE REDDISH EGGS!
perch, we found, was one of two favorite
At reddish-brown eggs lying
least four lookouts used by both birds.
in a shallow depression in the sand and We were back at the cliff with rope and
small fragments of rock at one end of the camera less than a week later (April 7).
main ledge could be seen through the field This time the old bird stuck to her nest like
glasses. a setting hen, while we scrambled around on
WEEK-ENDS WITH THE PRAIRIE FALCON 613
By balancing a moment, however, and get- poorly made wooden decoy, and turning a
ting a little slack in both lines, it was easy watchful eye not only on me, but on every-
to swing under, and then everything was thing far or near that looked suspicious.
safe, comfortable, and cosy. As her fear wore off, she lowered her head
As soon as I had time to get a firm foot- between her shoulders, but did not at any
614 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
time let it hang forward with beak down. for his mate. When she sailed in, about
Bluebottle flies, attracted to the nest by 2:35, he awaited no formalities, but im-
scraps of meat left by the falcons, were mediately jumped from the eggs into full
flecked off her head and beak with a quick flight.
twitch. The female looked at me and cackled
hoarsely, but soon settled herself on the
THE WATCH ON THE LEDGE eggs with little of the difficulty and dis-
An hour and five minutes by the clock I comfort her spouse had experienced.
watched, and then the male sailed in, with- Soon after, I uncoiled my cramped legs
out a sound from either bird to announce and called it a day. Five and a half hours
his coming, and alighted on the ledge about of steady watching, much of it through field
five feet from the female's head. For a few glasses, had been repaid by an interesting
moments after his arrival he uttered low glimpse into the division of labor in a falcon
and not unmusical screams and stood with family (see iUustrations, page 620).
head hung straight down, looking at his Further observation was delayed for two
feet —a pose more common with the weeks by a trip east, and when I slid down
Cooper's hawk than with a falcon. the rope to the ledge on April 29 I found
After a few moments he ran quickly along five amiable young falcons huddled into a
the edge of the ledge to the side of the single mass of white down, from which
brooding female, who had not yet recog- heads, legs, and wings protruded indis-
nized his presence by movement or call. criminately (see pages 614 and 615).
The moment he arrived, however, she The covering of down was scant enough,
suddenly half-raised, with lower feathers so that their very pink skins showed plainly
still puffed out, ran quickly out along the through it. One or two of them sat up
ledge, and sailed away without uttering a from time to time and preened themselves.
sound. They indulged, too, in many yawns and gave
The male looked the eggs over and started faint whistling peeps.
to settle himself upon them in her place, but Between swoops in front of the cliff the
his smaller size made it more difficult to old birds sat in dead trees or on the face
cover them and the operation appeared to of the bluff and yelled their disapproval of
worry him . He hunched and shuffled around me.
carefully, but uncomfortably, and finally
tucked two eggs under his breast feathers
"baby scales" —FOR YOUNG BIRDS
by nudging them along with his beak. A strong breeze was blowing from the
Once fairly settled on the eggs, his anxiety northwest on the afternoon of May 2, when
did not seem to end, and he humped him- we again visited the cliff, and the male was
self up and buckled down to his task as if standing by the nest with his back to the
the eggs had been on springs and might wind, screening the young. On our ap-
shoot out from under him if he relaxed his proach he sailed off to his own particular
efforts for a moment. lookout down the canyon; as I went over
Within five minutes of getting settled, he the top the female appeared and both began
suddenly jumped up and sailed off the ledge the usual circling and cackling.
without a run. I think his scare was due The youngsters showed very marked
to noticing me for the first time, for no growth, had far more down and far less
other intruder had approached. pink showing through, and were much more
alert than on my visit three days before.
SLEEP OVERTAKES THE NEST SENTINEL
The chalky-white knob, or "egg tooth," on
After perching near by and cackling half- the end of the bill was nearly gone.
heartedly, he finally returned and settled For identification, I first tried clipping
on the eggs as laboriously as before. He the extreme tip of one claw; but this proved
wanted to be wild and wary, but times were somewhat unsatisfactory because of the
too dull. He became sleepier and sleepier growth and wear, so I marked the five with
and finally dozed off completely. From colored strings. With these as guides, a
time to time he awoke to fleck flies off his separate weight record was started that con-
beak, but only once in four hours did he tinued for the rest of their nest lives, much
move his body. to the annoyance of the entire family.
Finally the sun began to strike the spot, By the time the ceremonies for the day
and after 1 p. m. he kept a sharp lookout were over, the young seemed both bored
WEEK-ENDS WITH THE PRAIRIE FALCON
and chilly and were tryingto huddle under side —one large enough to contain a nine-
the scales —a poor source of warmth and by-twelve-centimeter still camera with a
comfort. very fine but short-focus lens, and the other
Longing for a series of pictures of the a small moving-picture machine.
young and parents together, but lacking With much tugging and puffing, we lugged
a telephoto lens, I recalled the inventive this heavy contraption to the top of the
Private Jones (familiar to the lovers of cliff and swung it down to the ledge on the
Bruce Bairnsfather's wartime drawings), quiet morning of May 6, while both parents
who constructed "Little Plugstreet, The circled and screamed.
Sniper's Friend," a camouflaged sheet-iron Arrival of this large freight shipment on
tree trunk. Within it the inventor passed the ledge had the young well bluffed. When
a hair-raising morning, overtaken by day- I came to interview them they were all
light and under heavy fire while bogged backed up against the wall in a "sell your
down in a Belgian turnip field. lives dearly, boys," pose, and they opened
Our "Little Plugstreet" was a chunk of their mouths in unison every time I made
concrete cast around two boxes set side by a sudden move.
620 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
This fright soon wore off, however. The
youngsters decided that the one being
marlied and weighed was also being fed,
and all crowded forward to get their share.
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623
624 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
than ever. Blackie, of the evil temper, Flight characteristics observed at com-
stood and cursed until I left. paratively close range formed a thrilling
The half hour's observation from the feature of our falcon studies.
blind showed that the young were moving No one who has ever worked his way to
around very Often one would run
freely. the crest of a cliffabove a falcon's nesting
four or five feet and then exercise its wings. ledge will forget the first wild screams that
They also kept grabbing at small objects greet his arrival, the arrowlike rush of the
and occasionally pecked at each other play- bird as launches forth into space, turning
it
fully. Eating and sleeping, however, were its view the intruder, and the as-
head to
still their main occupations. tounding exhibitions of wild and headlong
Our repeated visits had probably con- flying and swooping that may follow.
vinced the old falcons that expostulation
BUCKING A STRONG WIND
was in vain. They spent less time on the
wing and permitted closer approach while The
character of the entertainment will
at rest. depend upon the individual birds, the state
By May 23 the young were so far ad- of their tempers, and in many cases on the
vanced that the riot usually attendant on strength of the wind.
weighing would probably have sent most We visited one cliff during a fierce gale.
of them flapping down the hillside. The The female, a very large and strong bird,
scales and the black bag were therefore was sitting on the edge of the old raven's
laid aside. nest she had pirated for a house and ab-
While pretty well scattered along the solutely refused to launch out against the
ledge, they did not seem particularly timid, wind until I suddenly dropped a coil of rope
and of their own accord lined up in a most in front of her.
satisfactory manner for the family group The results were startling. As the falcon
(see page 615). This, although we did not launched herself, an unusually strong gust
know it at the time, was to be our last close of wind caught her from beneath. The first
contact with the family. lightninglike stroke of her wings shot her
upward, hardly a yard from the front of
OFF TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNE the cliff and almost within arm's reach.
When we reached the cliff on the after- Upward and backward, 50 feet, she went,
noon of May 30, although the male came and then with wonderful and spectacular
out to meet us, all of the young had left contortions headed into the gale. That day
the nest ledge. there was no such thing as circling. The
Their screams, answering the frantic yells gale was so strong that with wings scarcely
of the parents, finally disclosed two of them opened she was buffeted about like a leaf
sitting on a sunny ridge of a rock about 200 high over head. Even while thus continu-
feet east of the nesting ledge and at about ally headed into the wind, she had a rough
the same level. While we watched them, time and frequently a side gust would ruffle
one flew strongly toward a saddle in the hill her feathers, blow her tail around almost at
just above the nest cliff and disappeared right angles to her body, and partly capsize
behind it. her.
near enough to the other to
I tried to get Often I had opportunity for contrasting
get a picture, but he went the same way the design of modern monoplanes and the
when I had approached within 25 feet. structure of swift-flying birds, of which they
With a tail wind, both youngsters set a fast are more or less crude copies. I never tired
pace in their first long flights. I caught of watching a falcon come sailing in from a
just one more glimpse of them, perched in great distance, with wings held steady and
the sage and withered grass of the hillside, fully extended in a very symmetrical and
their breasts showing a rusty orange in the strongly curved downward bow.
afternoon sun. Then they were gone.
We located the others resting almost A FALSE START IN HOUSEKEEPING
motionless on the opposite end of the cliff I once saw a pair of falcons make a
from the nest. It was impossible to reach rather interesting false start in housekeep-
and photograph them. They seemed safe ing. After a single egg had been laid on a
and contented, and so we coiled our rope, bare shelf, they deserted it completely for
cut the camera lines, bade them an affec- no apparent reason and raised their family
tionate farewell, and departed homeward. in a deep pothole 30 feet below.
WEEK-ENDS WITH THE PRAIRIE FALCON 62S
Another peculiarity
in nesting behavior was
noted at the "nest on
the cliff" in 1929. In-
stead of placing their
eggs in clear view on
the ledge, as they had
done the previous year,
the falcons chose a pot-
hole six feet below it.
In this position the eggs
could not be photo-
graphed, so we shifted
the whole set to the old
nesting depression.
Then for the next
half hour we watched
one of the keenest-
sighted of all birds fly
directly past its eggs,
and very
clearly visible
conspicuous on the
ledge, and go back in-
to the pothole from
which they had been
removed. While in the
pothole the old bird
mooned around as sol-
emnly as an owl and
uttered puzzled clucks.
This seems to be a
typical falcon reaction,
for a fellow observer re-
ports that a duck hawk
once refused to follow
its clearly visible eggs
when they had been A BOX SEAT ONLY SIX FEET FROM THE NEST
moved only two feet! From inside the hanging blind the author watched and photographed
It, went back to
too, upper cleft, and even "dined" with them
his falcon friends nesting in the
the exact spot where (see page 626). The spot seemed a wilderness, but no sooner was the
mysterious box in place than herders, driving sheep to summer ranges,
the eggs had been laid.
began to concentrate and inquire about it. Two years before, a falcon
After we had watched family occupied the lower ledge under the overhanging rock (see illus-
the antics of the old tration, page 612).
bird in the pothole until
it was certain she would not follow her eggs, gave a minimum of 45 birds and nine small
they were put back. Soon after, they dis- mammals (gophers and ground squirrels).
appeared and are now probably resting in The most surprising item was a tasty order
some collection. of eight burrowing owls.
Theclassified list of birds was as follows
THE VARIED DIET OF THE FALCON 2 mourning doves, 8 burrowing owls, 3
What is the normal diet of the prairie horned larks, 9 California jays, IS western
falcon? To this question there is no definite meadowlarks, 3 Brewer's blackbirds, 2 Cali-
answer. fornia shrikes, 1 rock wren, 1 chicken, 1
prowess was reflected in their varied list The eggs, which were hatched after the
of game. blind was first lowered into place, but before
Other families studied in previous years it was occupied, were laid in an old raven
and under different conditions were fed or owl's nest instead of on the bare ledge.
chiefly on ground squirrels. A fellow ob- The nest itself was within six feet of the
server found in the Mojave Desert region cameras, and when the young began to move
a nest of five young raised to a healthy about the distance was often from two to
maturity on a diet of chuckwalla lizards, four feet.
with an occasional collared lizard by way of To say that I was on intimate terms with
variety. the family is putting it mildly. We
even
My attempts to secure movies and
first dined together, they eating ground squirrel
stills of parents and young together had or meadowlark on the outside, while I had
been tantalizing and only partly successful. a vacuum bottle of coffee, with sandwiches,
One trip down a cliff for each still shot or fruit, and cake inside the blind.
movie run is too much of a good thing. At the whir or click of the cameras
first
Two years later, therefore, a comfortable put the old birds to hasty flight, but soon
and roomy box blind, stoutly framed and they became absolutely calloused to these
securely supported by light steel cables from noises and even to the sound of tearing off
two drill-steel pins, was swung into place at the paper tabs of the film packs.
a favorably located nesting site. It was astounding that one of the wildest
An old cotton comforter spread in the of birds could be filmed at such close range
bottom and on the bench deadened my foot- that the portrait attachment had to be used
and made a soft seat. Cracks between
falls and the operator could have reached out to
the floor boards let in a cooling breeze. the bird with his hand.
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