Asheville daily citizen., 1894-09-22
FISH HAWKS NESTS.
A Curious Study In Natural History Along
the Jersey Coast.

the Jersey Coast.
People who visit the northern coast
counties of New Jersey in summer are
struck with the curious, bulky nests OF
the fish hawks, which are SO common
in that locality. These nests are about
three feet across and about two feet
deep, and are nothing more or less than
big heap of brush and dead branches.
The hawks are protected in these coun.
ties by the impression that they bring
good luck, so that no one would think
of even so much as throwing stone at
one of the big birds, much less shoot at
one.
There is no sign of spring SO salts
factory to farmers along the coast as
the coming of fish hawks. The com
ing and going of these birds are pecul.
lar. You get up some morning in
April and they are here. After their
young are Matched and grown up it is
October, and you get up some morning
and find them gone. The same birds
come back year after year, and they
occupy the same nest, which always
needs a bit of rebuilding and occupies
the birds for few weeks.
1t is generally believed that there is
law protecting fish hawks. but it is a
mistake. There is an unwritten law,
and well-obeyed one, of custom. A
boy is told that he must not disturb the
birds, and he does not. The good treat
ment that the hawks have received has
made them so tame that their nests are
built in dooryarls and by the roadsides,
and the naturally timid birds have nc
fear Of mankind. The fish hawk is
found along many of the inland waters
of the state, but it is impossible to get
near them, and it is rare thing to find
a nest. They are the shyest of birds in
these places.
Years ago the fisher folk'on the coast
used to think that If fish hawk built
its nest on ones land it was an omen OF
good luck, and that success would GER
tainly follow him in whatever pursuit
he should undertake, and although
there is less of such feeling now, those
who own property on which the hawks
build welcome them in the spring rs an
old acquaintance, and look anxiously
for their coming as soon as the winter
breaks.
Fish hawks get their entire food
supply from the water. Their eyes are
so constructed that even at great
heights they can see fish that swim
near the surface, and then dive with
lightning speed. The fish is caught
in the claws, and is taken to the nest
Of the bird before being eaten. The
writer has seen hawk make a mistake
and catch hard crab, and when the
crab got both his big claws fairly at
work on the tender part of the birds
legs there was somewhat Of shaking
and diving in the air to get rid of the
crab, but it is not often they get fooled.
1t is generally all in their favor. A
hawk will fly away with a big ell
wriggling in its claws that man
could not hold thirty seconds with both
hands. The hawks sometimes, how.
ever, will dive at things they do not
want, and thing occurred few years
ago which is worth telling.
A steamer was passing Seabright. 1t
was big coaster rom Savannah to
New York, and lady on board lost
overheard handsome and valuable
lace shawl, which floated away after
striking the water. The passengers,
being interested, watched the shawl as
far as they could see it, and finally
saw a fish hawk dive at it, get
it fast in his claws, and fly inland with
It. The lady was very much put out at
losing the article and advertised re.
ward for the same. A lineman took a
notion he could get the shawl after
hearing the circumstances, and with
his spurs he started to pay visit to
every fish hawks nest in the county
Immediately back Of Seabright. The
shawl was found hanging on the side
Of nest on the Lewis White farm, near
Little Silver. What the hawk wanted
with the shawl is hard to tell, for
hawks use no such thing in building
their nests.
The top OF . Ash hawks nest Is as
rough ss tho sides, and without any de-
preston; the eggs would roll of,
but that the top Of the nest Is too
rough for them to move. The tame
ness Of the hawks has in many cases
made them nuisance. They build on
telephone poles, on chimneys and cupo-
las Of houses, and 1t IN sometimes nee.
essary to construct cupolas so they can
not get any landing place, for the
hawks do not mind In the least having
their nests torn up They build again
right away.
A story is told Of pair Of hawks
that built . nest one year In small
srr,s trae on the Hance property. on