Broad-wing Hawk photos from yesterday in Dubuque County

[Linda Rudolph]

I had a request to share some photos from my experience yesterday at Mines of Spain.  The first photo shows what I call a river of hawks all heading South.  The second photo shows part of one of the kettles that formed over my head.

Just in case anyone was wondering, my understanding of Broad-winged Hawk migration is that the hawks lift off in the morning as the day warms up and thermals start being formed.  The hawks find a thermal and they circle in the warm air, forming what birders call a  kettle,  as the air lifts them higher in elevation.  When they reach the top of the thermal they peal off and start heading South.  The hawks slowly lose height until they find the next thermal and repeat the process.

Linda Rudolph

Coralville

[drbeel]

Linda, I believe that the 23rd bird from the right in photo 9570 is in fact a female Cooper's Hawk.

What a fabulous experience you enjoyed yesterday!

Bill Scheible 

Cedar Rapids 

Iowa

USA

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone