Tail End

Looks like some new Cooper's Hawks  (Accipiter cooperii)  will be appearing in the not-too-distant future.

This is likely a female COHA Jared Clarke and Kristin Marten banded a few years ago (with Larry Preddy & I helping a teensy bit).  A pair returns to this particular nest every couple of years.  

Here is a photo of a different COHA after banding.

Beautiful birds.

 

Roche Percee Park

I walked around Roche Percee Park yesterday - the first time in months.  This Spring, word went out that the old and dilapidated park might be leased for cattle grazing.  The park had become over-grown and unused since Dutch Elm Disease killed all the beautiful elms several decades ago.  Anyway, a local group, SE Tours and Trails, got active, raised some money and roused some citizens.  The result is a cleaned up park, old camping spots cleared out, garbage removed.  It became a fairly popular picnic place again on weekends. 

I hope this won't bother the Cooper's Hawks that nest in the area every year. 

This is Kristen Martin with a newly banded adult female Cooper's (from two three seasons ago).