Bird watching in the winter has its perks even if it isn’t prime time for following our feathered friends. While most of our spring and summertime regulars have fled for warmer weather, we do get the opportunity to see a few who find our cold clime just fine.
The biggest advantages are the lack of leaves on the trees allowing improved spotting and the chance to watch a wide swath of the woods from indoors or in the car when the outside temperatures are uncooperative. A back yard bird feeder buzzes with activity when winter dishes out its worst.
Big birds of prey are easier to spot as they perch along highway power poles and high in bare trees studying the ground for any signs of movement. Missouri is home to more than a dozen different species of raptors including hawks, falcons, eagles, owls and vultures.
Every year the state Department of Conservation gives area residents an opportunity to meet some of these magnificent birds at An Evening With Raptors event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. The free, annual program is available in-person or online and is open to all ages from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.
Doors will open at the nature center at 6 p.m. for visitors to tour exhibits and learn more about the birds of prey in the state. The main presentation will begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium followed by a meet-and-greet with falconers, their birds and equipment.
Falconry is the art of training raptors – birds of prey like hawks and falcons – to capture wild game, so that bird and trainer essentially become hunting partner, explained Powder Valley assistant manager, Robyn Parker.
“Several area falconers will gather to offer the rare chance to observe and learn about these fascinating feathered hunters,” she said. “They will also explain how those interested can get started in this age-old sport.”
For those who choose to stay home on a January night, the auditorium presentation will be available via the internet. To sign up for the virtual event use the link: http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4r6. An email will be sent with log-on information for the Webex meeting.
Those who want to attend in person also must register in advance for the program, educational activities and the opportunity to meet the birds and their trainers. That registration link is http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4r2.
The easiest raptors to see from home or during a walk in the woods are turkey vultures, which soar on thermals high in the sky. Unlike the others they are not likely to kill their prey. They regularly dine on remains of animals killed by someone else. Owls and eagles are apex predators in the bird world, but they get their own programs.
Falcons and hawks are featured this month. As mentioned earlier this is a good time to look for hawks in our area. While a trained eye may be required to identify each species, they have traits that help them standout from the crowd.
The red-tailed hawk is a couple of inches taller than a red-shouldered when each are measured from the top of their heads to the tips of their tail. That difference can be difficult to judge from a distance. The most distinctive distinction is in the sound they make. The red-tailed hawk screams a one-note high pitched call, while the red-shouldered hawk screeches a repetitive KEyar- Keyar-KEyar.
Other hawks that may be visible this time of year include the sharp-shinned hawk and Cooper’s hawk which look similar except for their size difference. Cooper’s hawks are similar in size to a common crow, while the sharp-shinned hawk is significantly smaller.
The falcons we may see in the wild include the American Kestrel, which is the most common falcon in Missouri. About the size of a blue jay, they are notable for their hovering tactic before they attack their prey. The peregrine falcon looks similar, but is larger and recognized as the fastest animal on the planet with a diving speed estimated at 200 miles per hour.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.
Don't Call Me Outdoor John 