Sharpie Madness and a Successful Educator Workshop

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Sharp-shinned Hawk, (c) Josh Haas

My wife and I introduced seven Michigan educators to the wonder of raptor migration in Northern Michigan. A core part of the HMANA Michigan Raptor Migration Teaching Network (MRMTN), our workshop was based in Mackinaw City with day trips to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and the Mackinac Straits Hawkwatch. Both sites were inspiring for soaking in hawk-watching at its best but an impressive movement of Sharp-shinned Hawks stole the show at Whitefish Pt.

The goal of the MRMTN program is to engage with Michigan K-12 educators to support them in building lesson plans and curricula focused on raptors and raptor migration for their classrooms. A group of 11 educators with students ranging in age from elementary to high school are in our learning community and eager to introduce these phenomena to their classrooms.

This trip/workshop marked our first of two site-based workshops where the group can both experience raptor migration but also work collaboratively in person sharing ideas, drafting lessons and furthering their content to make it ready for students. The first year-long phase of the MRMTN project culminates at the HMANA 50th anniversary conference in Duluth, MN where a subset of teachers will share about the program and samples of their curricula.

A less than ideal weather forecast forced some changes to the schedule but it worked out for the best as the first major stop for migration turned out to be superb for Sharp-shinned Hawks, Broad-winged Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks. Not to mention, 50 degrees and sun along Lake Superior certainly helped with the appeal.

Rough-legged Hawk, (c) Josh Haas

Whitefish Pt. in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is one of my favorite places to experience raptor migration. It was vital to me the teachers had a similarly emotional connection with the birds and mystique of this site. Prior to hitting the deck, we made a quick introductory stop to the boreal forest where the group participated in an opening activity. While certain target birds eluded us, a secondary target, Red Crossbills made a beautiful appearance.

As we caravanned the final few miles to the point, sky-bound raptor numbers grew as we approached. Upon getting out of our cars, the group was surrounded by Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks in every direction; a great start before hitting the raised platform. Basking in the sun as we overlooked Lake Superior, we spent a couple hours emersed in the wonder that is hawk-watching. Educators theorized as to why the birds were taking certain flight paths, how to differentiate species and what was causing them to be so low. Experiencing how they view the phenom was inspiring. The winds were not perfect for the water crossing and they were stiff. The positive to stiff winds, however, is it tends to put birds, especially the smaller raptors closer to ground level. Being on the raised platform, this put Sharpies super low where plumage and behavior was a joy to experience.

Upon our return to Mackinaw City, our good friends at the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch prepared an outing to their owl banding site where banders shared the protocols, premise and research behind their operation. Participants asked great questions, in the spirit of sharing with their students. No owls were caught before leaving but the time and care the Straits group provided was excellent.

The next morning began with rain which gave us an opportunity to begin working as a group to invest in learning plans and share ideas collaboratively.  Educators talked about conservation, migration and the birds themselves as they thought about geography, biology, physics and cultural impacts that are relevant and close to home for students in Michigan. We are excited to see each of their learning plans take shape and the creative ways these educators will apply raptors and migration in their classrooms.

As the work began winding down, the rain started to move out and we spent the remainder of the day at the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch. This showed participants a different side of hawk-watching where field marks were lacking and silhouettes ruled the sky. This created a more thorough study of these birds. The highlight, however, came by way of  Raptor Watch ambassador Ed Pike with freshly trapped/banded Hawks to share with the group up-close. It was a fabulous way to close our two days of hawk-watching before ending in the classroom with focus on drafting individual trip reports and finishing lesson plan outlines.

It was a pleasure getting to know these outstanding educators and it gave both my wife and I a sense of pride but also a chance to be humbled as we listened to the ways these educators viewed our passions, with fresh and innovative ways of using the subjects in and out of the classroom.

MRMTN Group at Whitefish Pt.

Did I Just See a Kestrel or Merlin?

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American Kestrel (left), Merlin (right), (c) Josh Haas

If you’ve ever questioned the identity of the small falcon that just zipped passed the migration site, you may have been left wondering whether you had an American Kestrel or a Merlin.  The differences between these two falcons can seem subtle at first but the differences become more pronounced after even just a quick study of their shape and cadence in flight.  Add to that distinct behavioral differences to the equation for these two species and confidence builds quickly.

American Kestrels are small thin falcons with wings that look like banana peels attached to their body.  The thin, dainty impression of this bird is the first thing noticed when graced with their presence.  When soaring they hold their wings mostly flat, straight out from their bodies and they remain perpendicular to the body instead of the more expected swept back falcon appearance.  They make tight circles as they gain altitude fast.  They are buoyant and animated in flight often rising and lowering while soaring, flapping and gliding; especially when any kind of wind is present.  When gliding, their wings are held slightly bowed downward and the more classic swept back shape appears.  Their glides often end with them losing speed quickly, forcing them to flap and correct themselves.

The Kestrel’s wing beat is light, fluttery and looks like they are spending a lot of time getting from point a to point b.  They will also flap and glide in direct flight, similar to Sharp-shinned Hawks but unlike the active Merlin.

American Kestrel, (c) Josh Haas
Merlin, (c) Josh Haas

Where American Kestrels feel thin and dainty, Merlins feel stockier and heavier.  They llook like Kestrels on steroids and are masters of speed.  Where Kestrels seems light and delicate in flight, Merlins command their space and fly through it like they are late for a date.  If seen soaring, consider yourself lucky as these falcons rarely soar.  While in a soar, they show pointed falcon-like wings, held flat or slightly angled downward, however, their stocky build shines through.  Their wings are especially heavy near the base before tapering to sharp points.  A Merlin’s tail shares the heavier look and is sharply squared at the end.  When gliding their wings are angled down and they hold their speed throughout.

When flapping, it’s fast, rhythmic, powerful and sometimes feels like it never ends.  If you have a falcon in your bins, the bird is low and suddenly drops out of view, consider a Merlin.  They hug tree lines and shorelines, sometimes rocketing by only to be noticed at the last minute, if at all.

While these two raptors both have classic falcon wings, there are some key things to look for to distinguish the two.  With Merlins, it’s all about noticing a heavier, stockier build, including the wings and tail. They are especially hefty in the wings from the body to the wrists before the wings taper to points.  Kestrels on the other hand, appear thinner more delicate and longer winged; in fact, everything about the Kestrel is thinner all around.  Because both birds hold their wings slightly drooped in a soar, one needs to look for other pieces of the puzzle to differentiate the two but behaviorally, Kestrels will soar infinitely more often than Merlins, so this is an important factor to consider.

Be sure to pay attention to other clues related to flight behavior.  Kestrels rise and lower in altitude, both while flapping and gliding.  In active flight, the Merlin flaps more often and is more active overall.  The wing beat of the Merlin is fast, at a constant even rate and it seems like it never ends.  They have a direct line of flight and rocket through it.  The Kestrel often flaps and glides in an alternating fashion, similar to Accipiters like Sharp-shinned Hawks.  They are more buoyant and move around a lot in their space.

Behavioral traits to look for:

  • Both of these falcons will actively hunt in flight, even during migration but Merlins tend to do it more often
  • Merlins seem to prefer their space and will scream and go after any other bird occupying where they want to be, even birds as large as Eagles
  • Kestrels are typically seen well before getting close to a migration count site and also tend to be higher in the sky, while Merlins are most often low, hugging tree lines and beaches
  • The speed and timing of Merlins is extremely fast and usually found with little time to study them as they rocket by migration sites

Want to learn more?  Think about investing in our movie, Hawks on the Wing which not only features video and audio voiceover for 16 eastern North American raptors, it also includes 28 side-by-side comparison videos. Seeing these raptors actively flying on screen with audio voiceover teaching you how to tell them apart is the next best thing to experiencing it live!