Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-03-14
DFsTRT rTIsE HAWKS.
TIE Most BIoodthirsty XIII for the
Mere sport"

F-tfDtN-
Every ono viii admit that hawks
XII birds. Thirty-four observers
consider them seriously destructive.
II IS TO be noted. however. that. as
in the case OF the fox, the chief evil
dence IS given by gunners Never
theless, II Is probably true that. AZ
ter man. the great bird destroyer.
birds are among the greatest enemies
OF birds. No other animals can par
sne birds through the air No other
can follow them in their vast migra-
tons. discover them so far of.
or overtake and strike them so
quickly. We must. then, look among
rapacious birds themselves for some
OF the most Potent checks 10 bird
increase.
The bald eagle feeds mainly on
fish and has little effect on the num-
bers of other birds. The red-tailed
hawk is not now generally common.
The red-shouldered hawk seldom
kills birds or poultry. but, living
largely on field mice. is believed 10
be friend TO the farmer; but the
goshawk, duck hawk. Cooper hawk
and sharp-shinned hawk are all bird
slayers. OF these four the Cooper
and sharp-shinned hawks, being the
most common. are most destructive.
The duck hawk kills, like the cat,
for the sake OF killing. IL pursues its
prey on the wing, rapidly oyertak-
Ing switching ducks. Mr.. c. f.
Bailey reports seeing a duck hawk
overtake and strike three teal in
succession and then fly of, leaving
Its victim lying on the water For
tunateiy this hawk is rather rare in
Massachusetts.
The goshawk is here occasionally
In winter. but the Cooper hawk
breeds here and is still common. To-
cally II not generally This bird,
which is sometimes known as the
partridge hawk or chicken hawk is
feathered pirate. Swift, keen and
daring, 1t is the terror of both birds
and poultry. II is the one bird of all
others to neutralize the local efforts
of the bird protectionist 1t Is par
ticularly obnoxious to the farmer.
for. having once tasted chicken. il
continues its forays until 1t is shot
or the chickens shut up. 1t will
sometimes kill full-grown fowls, but
probably cannot carry them away.
Its keen eye detects the mother bird
sitting on the nest At one swoop
It snatches bird, nest, eggs and all
in its powerful talons; or 1t spies
the nestlings and picks them up as
food for its own young Conspicuous
songsters, like the brown thrasher,
robin, wood thrush. rose breasted
grosbeak and scarlet tanager, are
swept from their perches while in
full song by this bold marauder and
borne to its ravening brood.
Even the crafty bluejay does not
always escape. AS one OF these
hawks sweeps into a clearing and
strikes its prey every bird song be-
comes hushed. In a moment spar
rows. warblers, thrushes. titmice-
all the loquacious musical throng-
find cover or crouch motionless in
their hiding places in silent terror.
Grim death has been among them,
and 1t is long before they dare re-
sumo their activities The sharp
Skinned hawk IS a miniature OF the
Cooper hawk, although perhaps
trifle simmer in build. 1t is widely
known as the chicken hawk, and Is
strong and swift IT is nearly as
dangerous to birds as its larger and
stronger congener. 1t breeds here,
feeds Its young on birds, and will kill
birds as large as a jay. 1t is often
mobbed by jays, but not infreQuently
strikes one of its tormentors, when
all the rest fly off, leaving the hawk
to finish its victim.
Probably most of the birds now
killed by hawks in Massachusetts,
are struck down by these two spe-
cies. Sometimes in the fall these
birds may be seen In great numbers
migrating south. MIR w. S. Perry
estimates that he saw at least 900,
mostly sharp-shinned and Cooper
hawks, going south on October 10,
1892. He watched them flying all
day He estimates that each bird
VIII eat on the average two small
birds each day. or seven hundred
each year At that estimate the
/ goo hawks which came within the
range of his vision would eat 700,-
600 birds a year ! regard these
two birds and the goshawk as the
only hawks that should be shot by
gunners. most others being posi-
tive benefit, or SO rare as 70 do little
harm.
The l.seon hawk. also bird
hawk. is not common. and the spar
roE hawk feeds chieti< on insects
The bgoA winged hawk seldom kills
birds. aai tic marsh hawk feeds
maiH., on mammals ia most To-
ca.itics Massachusetts Board OF
Asyyfe1lt9rR.