Broad-wing Calling

For the summer, the key to hawk watching is to notice pairs...hopefully, nesting pairs.  I am not an advocate of revealing locations of nests, but to note you have one in your area adds to the assurance that the environment is healthy for reproduction in the greater area. Jimmy and I are always proud to hear the bright Pit-eeeeeee of the Broad-wing Hawk calling to it's mate.  Sometimes we aren't in a position to be sure there actually is a near-by mate, but if we can find in a certain site, a Broad-wing frequenting a certain tree or wire over and over, chances are there is a mate, and perhaps a nest nearby.  Without assuming too much, we at least take note of the repeated presence of such a bird.

This is the case lately with a Broad-wing we see over and over near Harrison Rd, along Hwy. 27, N.  The Exit to Walmart of all places. So if you are driving on 27 in that area, keep a look out.  We have seen it near to our car more than once, and when we look up, it is so easy to see the dark black outline around it's wings.  Quick easy ID. But once when our roof window was open, we heard that familiar call. Piteeeeee. (some sources say: Kee-eeeeee) What an attention getter. LOL

For those who have never heard it, check out this link and become familiar with the Broad-wing call, which you will seldom hear during fall migrations.  It is far more likely that you might hear it in summer.  Maybe you could go on a scavenger hunt one day, keeping your ears open for hawk calls, and learn to ID them by the calls.  Summer hawks are often unnoticed until they call.  So keep your ears on high alert, and you may have a wonderful summer birding experience, when the call also leads you to a nest or pair/fledge interaction.  And you will find opportunities to learn to ID young hawks as well, while viewing their more obvious attempts to find food.  Summer is actually a good time to go hawk watching, in something other than "migration mode."  And songs or calls can be an important part of that.

As many sources will affirm, Blue Jays love to mimic hawk calls, and are very good at it.  So be certain your calling hawk actually is one. Or become familiar enough that you can ID the hawk, whether it is an actual hawk or a Blue-Jay.  There are so many good sources and Apps now for Identifying birds and their sounds, that a quick reference to your favorite is simple to do.  We often play a bird song to draw out a bird we cannot see, or only hope is in the area during counts.  But I don't advise using this option with Hawks.  Hawks can be aggressive over territory, and will protect it. An supposed potential adversary might bring out the worst in a hawk with that aggression aimed at you and your device making the sound.  So be a little careful.  As always, may you have great birding days even in Summer. And even when you can't follow our advice to Keep Looking UP...Keep you birding ears on. 

Great birding to you!

And Keep Looking Up!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson