It was the 7th day of January 2008 and I had a fever- SPRING FEVER! The sun was shining and it was in the low 40s. I decided to take a drive to check on the status of the local avian population.
I started on CR 135 and drove south from Dunkirk. There was the normal activity as I went through Blanchard Township and recorded field notes of the species observed. Horned Larks were still in flocks of 15-25 individuals. The Horned Lark is our earliest nesting songbird. Dr. William Jackson and I found a nest north of a runway at the Bowling Green airport in Wood County on March 25, 1960. I have found nests under several inches of snow. Roger Tory Peterson describes its song as a "tinkling" sound.
Other species observed include the American Crow, American Kestrel, Northern Junco, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, European Starting, and Downy Woodpecker. A flock of 15-25 American Robins were noticed in a wooded area in Cessna Township. Robins can be found in protected areas during the winter months when food, such as berries, is available. Another well-known species observed was the American Goldfinch. Two were seen in Blanchard Township on the return trip. The male has a noteworthy coloration pattern. It begins to obtain its brilliant summer plumage in late March. Its winter plumage is acquired during the later part of September and resembles that of the female. Studies show that the winter plumage has approximately 1,000 additional feathers. After returning home, I noticed something rather obvious- the American Kestrel. I have never written an article on this fanciful falcon.
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), once known as the Sparrow Hawk, has adapted very well to our area. It is about the size of the Mourning Dove and can be easily mistaken for the Mourning Dove when seen at a distance. It has a rufous-colored tail that can be seen in flight. Both male and female have a black and white face pattern that is visible in the field by using binoculars. This is the only small Hawk that hovers in mid-air. One was observed that hovered for 30 seconds, folded its wings and dove to the ground. It missed its prey and continued hunting. I observed an American Kestrel south of Patterson, OH that had a mouse in its talons. It had taken the mouse in a nearby field. Fourteen of these small Hawks were seen between Dola and Ada in January- all were perching on utility wires near the highway.
The American Kestrel is a permanent resident of most of Ohio. It is a cavity nester but has been known to nest in Martin houses, eaves of houses, signs along interstate highways, church steeples, and squirrel nests. Richard S. "Doc" Phillips reported that their diet consists of grasshoppers, crickets, mice and shrews.
