The Sandhills are plentiful these days, this flock in the Stayner area is well over 1000 birds. Daily, smaller flocks are passing over our farm in the Beaver Valley, we can usually hear them before we see them as they are very noisy when flying … they sound like a litter of young racoons at war. I literally look around for racoons, then noticed the sound is coming from the sky.
These birds have declined 85%-98% in the past 40 years and are listed as a “species of concern” or “vulnerable”. Their song has been compared to the grating of a rusty hinge. They have been documented feeding on sparrows, robins, and Snipe … interesting since I found this one watching a flock of Sparrows and Juncos in a hedge row.
This raptors breeding grounds are as far north as Ontario, some migrating south to Mexico for the winters. It’s a stout hawk compared to the Red-tailed.
