Raptors have enjoyed the respect and the indignation of humans through the ages.

In a time long ago, they were worshipped as gods. In more recent times, they were considered varmints.

Today, they inhabit our Mountain community and are accepted for whatthey are:
essential winged commanders of the sky.

The American bald eagle rules as the stalwart symbol of the country.

The osprey is the great fisherman of our rivers and lakes.

The turkey vulture is an ugly scavenger that cleans up after us.

The American kestrel and peregrine falcons are the aerial speed merchants.

And in their midst the hawks are the most plentiful and diverse, with five
types patrolling the Mountain skies.

Hawks, like all the raptor family, suffered through the day when they were
considered senseless killers of ducks, chickens and livestock.

They were seen as fair game and were shot for sport. Then they were invaded
by insecticides which produced thin egg shells that were broken before they
could hatch.

Slowly, they gained acceptance when the public realized they were much
more beneficial in their rodent control than any harm they visited on livestock.
The Cooper’s hawk, Northern goshawk and sharp-shinned hawk are woodland
hunters on the Mountain. They are built for speed and agility. They prey
mostly on other birds and the occasional rodent.

The Northern harrier is a low-flying hawk that hunts primarily in open country,
eschewing wooded areas. They feed mostly on small mammals.

The red-tailed hawk is the most common in our area, soaring to great heights
over open fields, or perched on a utility pole or fence post waiting patiently for
its prey. They feed mostly on rodents but will capture the occasional snake.

Cooper’s Hawk – Often called a chicken hawk, due to its desire for eating
chickens. They are extraordinary in that they can eat birds “on the fly,”
according to Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife biologist Susan Barnes. For
some reason “they will also bite the heads off quails,” Barnes said. This hawk
is easily identified by its flight pattern – several rapid wing beats alternating
with brief periods of sailing.

Northern Goshawk – An aggressive hawk, it is able to maneuver through
thick forest landscapes. “They inhabit deep forests such as the areas of the
Mt. Hood National Forest,” Barnes said. “But it is uncommon to actually see
one because of their quickness and the habitat they call home.” They eat
geese, rabbits, ducks and squirrels, as well as insects, Barnes added.

Sharp-shinned Hawk – This is the smallest of the area’s hawks and is highly
secretive by nature. It is often depicted as a blood-thirsty villain due to its
appetite for songbirds. The ODFW biologist backed up this notion. “Although
they can be found in the forests, it also hunts in backyards,” Barnes said.

“They get 95 percent of their diet from birds.” Though seldom sighted, they
are easily identified by their bright, red eyes.

Northern Harrier – Also called the marsh hawk due to its primary hunting
areas being pasture and wetlands. Its main hunting technique is a distinctive,
gliding flight low over the ground relying heavily on visual as well as auditory
cues to detect prey.

Red-tailed Hawk – It is easily identified in flight by its orange-red tail. It is
the most common of Oregon hawks because they are “habitat generalists,”
Barnes said. “They live on fire escapes in Portland, trees, urban parks, forests
and farm fields. They nest in tall trees and build nests of sticks lined with
vegetables. They are nesting now (in the Mountain community).

They have amazing eyesight and will carry off chickens, rabbits, snakes, frogs
– in general they have a varied diet.” For some unknown reason they are
often harassed by crows.
Of all the hawk families, the Northern harrier is a particular favorite of the
ODFW biologist.

“Their flight pattern is amazing,” Barnes said. “They fly so low and tilt their
wings back and forth. They nest on the ground.”

This is obviously the stuff of a devoted biologist.