Northern Harrier | Hunting Technique ___ 00_SZN6138-Enhanced-NR-1 copy
Northern Harrier | Hunting Technique
Smaller than the more common Red-tailed Hawk generally hunting from the periphery of woodlands, Northern Harriers, aka marsh hawk or ring-tailed hawk, prefer to fly low over open habitats, listening to prey activity below by twisting and turning abruptly over tangles of grasses and shrubs. Here, a male Harrier is seen flying over an open field into 50 km/h sustained wind gusting to nearly 100 km/h and from time to time touching down in search of small rodents, principally mice and voles. In addition to single action shots, some progressive composite images illustrating the Harrier’s sight and/or sound-based hunting strategy are provided throughout this photo album. According to “All About Birds”, Northern Harriers breed throughout Canada but generally do not winter north of the CAN-USA border. Granted, Kingston is on the northern fringe of the Harrier wintering range, however, the current mild winter and lack of snow in Southeastern Ontario may have influenced this bird’s innate desired to migrate south
Northern Harrier | Hunting Technique ___ 00_SZN6138-Enhanced-NR-1 copy
Northern Harrier | Hunting Technique
Smaller than the more common Red-tailed Hawk generally hunting from the periphery of woodlands, Northern Harriers, aka marsh hawk or ring-tailed hawk, prefer to fly low over open habitats, listening to prey activity below by twisting and turning abruptly over tangles of grasses and shrubs. Here, a male Harrier is seen flying over an open field into 50 km/h sustained wind gusting to nearly 100 km/h and from time to time touching down in search of small rodents, principally mice and voles. In addition to single action shots, some progressive composite images illustrating the Harrier’s sight and/or sound-based hunting strategy are provided throughout this photo album. According to “All About Birds”, Northern Harriers breed throughout Canada but generally do not winter north of the CAN-USA border. Granted, Kingston is on the northern fringe of the Harrier wintering range, however, the current mild winter and lack of snow in Southeastern Ontario may have influenced this bird’s innate desired to migrate south