The broad-winged hawk is very mysterious.
It is such a stealthy, quiet creature that it goes largely unseen during the warm summer months, its breeding season, even though it is very common in forests of the Eastern United States.
“Every year in the fall and spring this raptor makes a spectacular journey as it migrates with thousands of other broad-winged hawks,” said Rob Mardiney, director of education at Irvine Nature Center in Greenspring Valley. “Many people observe these annual migrations, watching the dark, speckled sky as these hawks soar in rising, warm air pockets called thermals.
Only during times of migration can these hawks be observed in the open.”
After spending winters in SouthFlorida or in South America?s tropical forests, the broad-winged returns to our forests for the summer.
The leaves and branches of the tree canopies in our deciduous forests allow these medium-sized, stocky framed raptors to camouflage themselves.
A hawk will perch quietly on a branch, hiding and waiting to swoop down and grab unsuspecting prey with its sharp talons.
The broad-winged hawk normally eats small mammals such as mice, but will happily feast on birds, snakes, frogs and bugs.
“Although there are many dangers in the wild for these birds, people are their number one threat because of roads, development, power lines, and pollution,” Mardiney said. “Irvine?s broad-winged hawk came to us after a collision with a car injured his wing. He can no longer live in the wild, but will be cared for by our staff.”
Provided by the Irvine Nature Center, visit explorenature.org.
