Your mind framed

 The ABA, Audubon Society, e- bird and Cornell Labs, the State and County biologists and ornithologists are placing your mind into a position of believing that goshawks are a rare species in many areas of the U.S. Or that goshawks are a common species in some areas, but that you will probably not observe this species because they prefer to hide and live in the forests. I say that NG prefer seclusion while nesting, but after the nesting season NG prefer to hunt on the outskirts of the forest— in pasture land, deserts, farm land and cities and suburbs. 

One way to try and prove my point is to observe birding check lists. In some areas NG are not present on check lists. In most areas the check list is presented as: SharpShinned Hawk ( SSHA), Cooper’s Hawk (COHA), SSHA/COHA, Goshawk (NG), accipiter sp. So, what is wrong with this picture?  COHA and SSHA are presented twice. NG is presented once. Here is the way to correct the situation— there should be a check off line such as — COHA/ NG. Now the NG is presented twice. In fact when ever accipiters are mentioned NG should be a part of the equation. The question is always— Is this bird or photo, of a COHA or SSHA? The question should be — Is this a NG or a COHA. So, there I think I am proving that NG are being omitted from the proper thinking of birders. In nature, The female COHA is presented much more than  the male COHA, which means the Female COHA will match up with the male NG, much more so than the Female COHA will match up size wise with the female SSHA. So, again the question is — COHA or NG?

What I am drawing is a picture of is when accipiters are in the air, not the sky, as I will cover that on another posting, but also perched or cutting in and out of trees. The reason for the constant question of the COHA/ SSHA questionnaire is because of the birders not doing their homework on accipiter identification, meaning the novice birders are drawing a lot of attention to their dilemma. My next posting will be the dilemma of accipiters in the sky during non migration. Where certainly the question, mystery is, or should be— COHA or NG? NB.

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