Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-04
FEATHERED BRIGANDS
Something About the Destructive
Pests of the Air.
Peculiaffties of the variOas Species OF
Hawks-Thefr Great Capacity for
Harm-Oae Kind . Friend
of the Farmer.

Among the many enemies which
threaten to exterminate our game birds
the powerful hawks of the air stand
almost in the front rank. occupying a
position. as il were, among the feath-
cred tribes that can only be likened TO
brigands. Powerful of flight keen of
eye. swift as shooting arrows in their
descent, bold and rapaeious in their
habits. and wild and rowing in their
continual search for prey. they form a
species of enemy that few creatures.
whether they be feathered or furred.
can escape when bounced upon in the
open Among these terrible warriors
of the air the buzzard-hawks occupy
first place by virtue of their size and
strength East of the Mississippi four
species are found. the great red-tailed
hawk being the commonest and largest
Its loud scream. resembling the sylIa-
bic kGl, uttered now and then as it scars
around in great circles, is familiar to
the ears of most hunters Its majestic
appearance in the air has often been
the theme OF poets songs but the
sportsman sees nothing but fair
game" in the circling creature
sailing two to four hundred feet above
his head The shotgun is not of much
use for these birds. as they rarely ap-
proach within ordinary range of such
an implement, but the stout body and
long wings make fair target for a
rife ball. When the bird has made
half of its circle, and comes up against
the wind. its flight is much slower, and
the hunters chance has come. The
birds live almost entirely of such
dainty food as rufTed grouse, sharp
tailed grouse. quail. RABBIT, spruce
partridge and migratory birds
Nearly as large as the red-tailed
hawk, but less majestic in its flight
and habits. is Swainson's buzzard.
which prefers 70 obtain its food by de-
coying birds from the bush. and then
bouncing upon them from a short dis
lance Birds smaller than quails form
their principal food. while many in
sects are devoured by them. To have
sport with this bird. one must brighten
1t OFF its nest, when the cunning Great
ure will limp and futter away as if
severely wounded. Follow it suffi-
cient distance from the nest, and it
Will suddenly rise up in the air and
sail OF 20 other parts A fine shot is
then offered 1t has a wing expause
OF some forty-uine inches Or more.
which offers fair large, for a ball.
The red-shouldered hawk is a trifie
smaller than either OF the above. and
far more timid in its habits. II seldom
ventures outside OF the forest. where it
obtains its food by perchirg itself on
some old stump of a tree. and sitting
mo.ionless until some prey approaches
Its resting place. The sight of an
enemy coming through the forest is
the signal for alarm. and il imme-
dlateiy sails up in the air TO great
heights But just after it has finished
a hearty meal. the gourmand becomes
so gorged that rapid flying is almost
impossible, and it can not even sail in
the air for long time at once. The
hunter can ct such times often get good
shots 1T the creature. The broad
winged hawk resembles it somewhat
only the latter is more daring and
fierce in lis attacks. Hunger will often
make it SO bold that it will seize
wounded game from before the very
gun OF the hunter.
Supplementing these large brigands
of the air are many smaller species.
which. thou Oh not so noble game, are
far more common and easier Of capt
ure- Every duck-hunter is familiar
with that destructive creature known
as the peregrine. or duck-hawk.
been known for years. It does
not hesitate TO attack game as
large and even larger than itself, and
its well-aimed. arrow-like blow seldom
gives its victim chance to retaliate.
In New England it is called the great
footed hawk, and it may be found all
along our Atlantic coast every wear.
following close on the heels of the
spring and autumn focks of ducks.
The fight of the bird when in quest OF
prey is something astonishing, and i,
IL a common occurrence for 1t to over
take the feet-winged carrier-pigeou.
German falconers train the birds for
the express purpose of overtaking car
rer-pigeens. which makes them oil
great service in times of war The
courage and dash of the bird make il
a favorite in spite of its destructive
Qualities To shoot one of these rapid
myers when in pursuit of a flock oil
ducks. the hunter wants a shotgun,
wen-enarged with heavy duck-shot-
The bird does not soar about in the air
as do the buzzard-hawks, but often an.
proaehes within a very reasonable dis
lance of the gunner
The little pigeon-hawk. though a
tiny creature compared with the duc,r.
hawk, rivals its larger companion in
its rapid flying Il is seldom shot
even by the best of woodsmen. II :
always on the move. restless and quick