This is my first
listed cache that my grandfather helped me put together. This
is a micro cache—with log sheet and pencil—using a container
that my father won during the recent “Chicken Run!” event
cache. It is located not far from my own “nest” close to the
big city of Ona, WV.
The theme of this
cache is about the American Sparrow Hawk which may be of particular
interest to the Bird Watching hobbiest. This small raptor has
another more modern and formal name. If you can name it in your log
entry you may receive an extra point or two. Also, one of my
relatives has a nickname of sorts by the same name. Good luck on
your hunt and have fun! Tayte.
The Sparrow
Hawk
Description
The Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius) is the smallest
falcon in North America—about the size of an American Robin.
The female ranges in length from 9 to 11 inches with a wingspan
of 21–24 inches and weighs an average 4.2 ounces. The length of the
male varies between 8–10 inches with a wingspan ranging from 20–22
inches and weighing an average of 3.9 ounces. These subtle
differences are often difficult to discern in the field.
In both sexes, the head is white with a bluish-grey top. There
are also two narrow, vertical black facial markings on each side of
the head; one below the eyes and one on the rear portion of the
auriculars. Two black spots can be found on each side of the white
or orangish nape. The wings are moderately long, fairly narrow, and
taper to a point. While perched, the wingtips are noticeably
shorter than the tail tip.
Vocalizations
The Sparrow Hawk has three basic vocalizations - the "klee" or
"killy", the "whine", and the "chitter." The "klee" or "killy" is
usually delivered as a rapid series - "killy, killy, killy, killy"
when the hawk is upset or excited. It is used at the apex of the
dive display, during fights with others of its kind, and after
unsuccessful hunting attempts.
The "whine" may last as long as one to two minutes and may be
single or treble. The more intense the situation, the more likely
the "whine" will move toward the treble extreme. "Whines" are given
during courtship feeding and copulation. The treble whine is heard
from breeding females and fledged hungry young.
The "chitter" is the most frequent vocalization in male - female
interactions. Its volume and duration depends upon the stress or
excitement of the situation. It is associated with friendly
approaches and bodily contact between the sexes during breeding
season. Occasionally a "chitter" follows a "whine."
Calling occurs throughout the day. Nestlings at two weeks can
produce all three vocalizations. Females tend to have slightly
lower pitched and harsher voices than males.
Ecology and Behavior
Sparrow Hawks are found in a variety of habitats including parks,
suburbs, open fields, forest edges and openings, alpine zones,
grasslands, marshes, open areas on mountainsides, prairies, plains,
and freeway and highway corridors.
In addition to requiring open space for hunting, Sparrow Hawks
seem to need perches for hunting from, cavities for nesting (either
natural or man-made), and a sufficient food supply.
The Sparrow Hawk is the only North American falcon to habitually
hover with rapid wing beats, keeping its head motionless while
scanning the ground for prey. It commonly perches along fences and
power lines. It glides with flat wings and wingtips curved upward.
It occasionally soars in circles with its tail spread and its wings
flat.
Feeding
In summer, Sparrow Hawks feed largely on grasshoppers, dragonflies,
lizards, mice, and voles. They will also eat other small birds,
particularly House Sparrows. Wintering birds feed primarily on
rodents and birds. The birds characteristically hunt along
roadsides from telephone wires, fence posts, trees or other
convenient perches when not flying in search of food. When they are
flying and looking for food they frequently hover with rapid wing
beats.
Several hunting techniques are used by the Sparrow Hawk. It will
hover over one spot—when prey is sighted it will partly fold its
wings and drop lower once or several times before striking. When
the prey disappears the falcon will glide in a semicircle before
turning back into the wind to hover again. It will also soar in
circles, or figure eights, using the same stooping tactics as when
hovering.
Other prey capture techniques include direct pursuit, landing and
flushing prey from the ground (especially for grasshoppers) and
then taking them in flight, capturing flying insects from an
elevated perch, and nest robbing including the burrows of Bank
Swallows and the nests of Cliff Swallows. It is also an occasional
bat catcher, taking bats from their tree roosts, or striking bats
in flight from above or as the bats leave or enter caves.
The Sparrow Hawk occasionally robs others of the same species.
It has also been known to rob a shrike of its prey. Sparrow Hawks
sometimes harass other hawks, and even Golden Eagles, in
flight.
Reproduction
A cavity nester, Sparrow Hawks will use holes in trees, rock
cavities and crevices in cliffs, artificial nest boxes, or small
spaces in buildings. The number of suitable breeding cavities
limits this species' breeding density. The Sparrow Hawk has adapted
well to nest boxes. In one program, nest boxes were fixed to the
backs of signs along a freeway thus allowing them to breed in areas
formerly devoid of nest sites. Pairs nesting in boxes on poles have
much higher nesting success than pairs using boxes on trees. No
nest is built inside. In nest boxes sawdust and wood shavings may
be a suitable substrate for the eggs. Males and females defend the
nest against intruders, with the male maintaining a small core
territory and the female defending the nest cavity directly rather
the surroundings.
Both sexes take turns incubating the 4-5 brown-spotted white
eggs, a very rare situation among North American birds of prey
where the female usually incubates exclusively. Correspondingly,
both sexes develop bare oval patches on each side of their breasts
where the warm bare skin can contact the eggs for warming. Eggs
hatch 29 to 31 days after being laid. They will renest if the first
nest fails and have been reported to raise 2 broods per year in
some of the southern states.
The young grow very quickly, becoming noisy between day 11 and
14 and assuming adult weight in about 2.5 weeks. The young fledge
in 30 to 31 days. Early fledgling behavior varies. Broods typically
stay together for a week or two. Some broods remain close to the
nest area for a week or two while others travel throughout the
parents' home range. Generally, young do not disperse more than 0.6
miles (one km) away from the nest area until two to four weeks old.
Young disperse as hunting skills develop. Occasionally groups of
older juveniles from various broods join together into flocks.
Congrats to
kandhberry on his first FTF and his 100th! 