Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-09-14
WAYSOF F1SHHAWKS
ASTuOY IN NATURAL HISTORY ALONG
THE JERSEY COAST.

Make Themselves at Home and Are Incl
Grntally Sometimes Nuisances - Diving
For Fish and Getting Them.
People who visit the northern coast
counties Of New Jersey in summer are
struck with the curious, bulky nests Of
the iishhawks, which are so common in
that locality. These nests are about 3
feet across and about 2 feet deep and are
nothing more OF less than big heap of
brush or dead branches The hawks are
protected in these counties by the inn
preston that they bring good luck, so
that no one would think of even so
much rs throwing q stone at one of the
big birds, much less shoot at one.
There is no sign of fprlng so satisfac-
tory to farmers along the coast as the
coming of the fishhawks The coming
and going of these birds are peculiar.
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 como back year
after year, and they occupy the same
nest, which always needs II lat Of re-
building and occupies tho birds for
few weeks.
1t is generally believed that there is
law protecting fishhawks, but it is
mistake. There is an mlyvritten law,
and II wCll Oboyed one, of custom. A
boy is told that he must not disturb the
birds, ard he does not The good treat
mcnt that the hawks have received has
made them so tame that their nests are
built III dooryards and by the roadsides
ind the naturally timid birds have no
fear Of mankind. The fishhawk 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
nest They are the shyest of birds in
these places.
Years ago the fisher folk along the
coast used to think that if fishhawk
built its nest ON ones land it was an
omen of good luck, and that success
would certainly follow him in whatever
pursuit he should undertake, and al
though there is less of such feeling now
those who own property on which the
hawks build welcome them in the spring
as old acquaintance and look anxiously
for their coming as soon as the winter
breaks.
Fishhawks get their entire food sup
ply from the water. Their eyes are so
constructed that even at great heights
they can see fish that swim near the sur
1f.ya xxysfI ir,lxf xf,,s,
The fish is caught. in the claws and is
taken to the nest of the bird before be-
ing eaten. The writer has seen hawk
make 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
eel wriggling in its claws that man
could not hold 80 seconds with both
hands. The hawks sometimes, however,
will dive at things they do not want,
and thing occurred a few years ago
which is worth telling.
A steamer was passing Seabright. 1t
was a big coaster from Savannah to
New York. and lady on board lost
overheard handsome and valuable lace
shawl, which foated away after strik-
ing the water. The passengers, being
watched the shawl as far as
they could see it, and finally saw fish
hawk dive at it, got it fast in his claws
and fly inland with it. The lady was
very much put out at losing the article
and advertised reward for the same.
A lineman took notiGn he could get
the shawl after hearing the circum-
stances, and with mis- spurs be started to
pay visit to every fishhawk's nest in
the county Immediately back of Sea-
bright. The shaw 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 q fishhawk's nest is as
rough as the sides, and without any de-
preston. The eggs would roll Off bat
that the top Of the nest is too rough for
them to move The tameness Of the
hawks has in many cases made them q
nuisance. They build on telephone
poles, on chimneys and cupolas Of houses.
and il is sometimes necessary TO con-
struct cupolas 30 they cannot get any
landing place, for the hawks do not
mind in the least having their nests torn
ap. They build again right away.
A story is told Of pair Of hawks
hat built nest one year I'm a small
lpple tree on the Hance property, ON
Rumson neck. The nest was built ON a
,art Of the tree which could not stand |
he weight, and IL broke down. The |
lawks built Ia another part. and high |
Wind came and entirely upFooted the |
rec, The birds then. for the third time.
,uilt their nest IN the hole where the
rec had been, and when they had |
iatched out their young q weasel killed
hem all, aud they had 10 give up rails
Dg family that season
II Is erroneonsly stated that the trees
n which lshhawka build die soon aft
.rwaFd The truth is the trees more
,ften improve, The hawks select an old