One of the less known parts of DuPuis is the Powerline Grade along the eastern perimeter. A one way trip is 13 miles long and can be traveled on foot, bike, horse, or car. As the name implies, the shellrock road parallels high tension power lines running south from the FPL Indiantown plant. The southern half of the road runs between a canal (with many resident alligators) and the adjacent Corbett WMA. You may also see otters, deer, birds and various Florida fauna. Bringing your camera is recommended. Happy caching!
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized bird of prey native to North America. Adults have red eyes and have a black cap, with blue-gray upper parts and white underparts with fine, thin, reddish bars. Their tail is blue gray on top and pale underneath, barred with black bands. Cooper's hawks can be confused with sharp-shinned hawks.
These hawks prey mostly on smaller birds, catching them by surprise then squeezing the prey to death with their talons. They are nicknamed "chicken hawks" from a mistaken belief they heavily on poultry. The population has recovered in modern times and is not endangered. Instead, Cooper's hawks can be problematic in some areas because they prey on other birds that are still endangered.