Harlequins still at Humber Bay + RT Hawk question

[angelicque]

the harlequin ducks are still at Humber Bay Park, in case anyone hasn't seen them yet
i don't believe the ring necked is still around, i didn't see him this time...i did, however, see a common loon. first time, for me personally, ever seeing them around these parts...also found where the mink's burrow entrance is located
he's a brave little fella!

i have a question concerning RT Hawks - while at Rattray Marsh on saturday, my husband and i noticed a rather large RT Hawk flying around, and i got to wondering...how come the RT Hawk's in the wild are always so massive, yet all the RT Hawk's i have seen either in zoos or in falconry workshops are quite small in comparison (even at 6 years of age)? is it a captivity issue?

[Anonymous]

Nope, not a captivity issue.

Remember, feathers can be a deceiving bunch of things.  Eric, who only weighs about 4 lbs, looks more like 7 or 8 when he's puffed out.  

Also, most of the time you're eyes are also playing tricks on you.  It only appears bigger... :lol: Females are generally larger than males.

Finally, red tails also have an internal system where they're actually are able to maintain their body weight even if they haven't been feeding.  Ensures their survival.

Hope all this helps.

AP

[angelicque]

Nope, not a captivity issue.

Remember, feathers can be a deceiving bunch of things.  Eric, who only weighs about 4 lbs, looks more like 7 or 8 when he's puffed out.  

Also, most of the time you're eyes are also playing tricks on you.  It only appears bigger... :lol: Females are generally larger than males.

Finally, red tails also have an internal system where they're actually are able to maintain their body weight even if they haven't been feeding.  Ensures their survival.

Hope all this helps.

AP

ahhh! this clears things up quite a bit
thank you!

[Video John]

I was astonished to see 4 Harlequins at HBPE on Sunday - never having seen more than one of these birds at a time since my first one on dec. 31, 1970,  I rushed home to report this sighting to somone and thought of the TOC. When L found this page I discovered that Angelique had posted a report ten minutes before. I then realised that I wasn't registered on this board and wouldn't have brrn able to post anything anyway.

On April !st I had my best day ever for waterfowl at this location. It was a very windy day and a lot of ducks and other bitds were sheltering in the marshy lagoon east of the parking lot. I found a convenient boulder to sit on and watched the passing parade for an hour.  I saw 12 duck species in that pond and most of them came quite close at one time or another. Only a Ring-necked duck and a Redhead stayed at the far end of the pond - along with a Pied-billed Grebe. The day was  further enhanced by my first Kingfisher and Cormotant of the year.

John

[David the park stroller]

Fabulous view of the 4 harlequins today at Humber Bay, est side of the point.  Catch em while they're here!