In June of 2019, which seems like a long time ago, we were searching for Red-shouldered Hawk nests as part of the Breeding Bird Atlas II project and provided a Friday Feathered Feature on our day spent banding red-shoulders at two nests with the Gene and John Jacobs. More about that effort in this post.
The Jacobs brothers banded red-shoulders in 2020 but not in the Portage area due to COVID-19. Last year was their 50th year studying the state-threatened Red-shouldered Hawk. Their research project began in 1971 near Green Bay and the two have banded over 2,000 red-shoulders! More info about their organization is here.
In 2018, they began attaching cell phone transmitters to red-shoulders to learn more about red-shoulders breeding, migration and winter ecology that could not be learned from banding. Madison Audubon contributed funding over three years to their project.
Radio transmitter being applied to a Red-shouldered Hawk by Gene Jacobs (left). Photo by Arlene Koziol
This year, Gene said that if we could locate nests he would like to band adults and young and attach a cell phone transmitter to an adult female.
As in 2019, Brand Smith took the lead and spent several days searching floodplain forests in the Portage area and located two “active” nests. At one location Brand found three red-shoulder nests in a small area and we then learned that they can make a number of nests and only use one.
Brand Smith searches for a Red-shouldered Hawk nest, photo by Arlene Koziol
Once a date was set, we assembled a team to help Gene with the process that included erecting blinds, mist nests, and helping band the birds. At the first nest, after everyone was in blinds or sitting 40 yards away in camouflage, Gene played a red-shouldered call and within a couple of minutes a bird flew in and was caught in the net. It was quickly removed and taken back to the road for processing. Part of the team stayed in the blinds and began playing the tape. We were surprised when the male came in and was soon caught in a mist net.
A Red-shouldered Hawk with new bands, photo by Arlene Koziol
While processing the birds, Kameron Krause, a new recruit, scaled a rope up 50 feet to the nest and lowered three young down for banding. Gene climbed some trees this year but the brothers are in transition to have younger people climb the nesting trees. Kameron and two new climbers with John are arborists that have an interest in raptors and climb trees for a living.
Red-shouldered Hawk nest and rope ready for climbing. Photo by Arlene Koziol
Three Red-shouldered Hawk chicks waiting to be processed. Photo by Arlene Koziol
A hat has many uses! Red-shouldered Hawk chick processing, photo by Arlene Koziol
We lucked out in 2019 when Brand and Mark were searching for floodplain forest species and saw a carpenter working outside of his shop not far from the floodplain forest. We thought maybe this person could provide comments on birds in the local area so we stopped to visit. When Randy Hollander introduced himself, Mark asked if he was related to Audrey Hollander, who helped for many years on the Poynette Christmas Bird Count (CBC). He replied that “Audrey was my mother.” It did not take long to learn that Randy Hollander came from a birding family and was very knowledgeable about red-shoulders and Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the local area. Randy has been a big help in pointing out possible nesting areas and securing landowner contacts.
When the first pair of adults was caught, we called Randy who was working nearby and asked if he would like to see red-shoulders up close. Randy was tickled to be able to release the female with the transmitter.
Randy Hollander releases a Red-shouldered Hawk, photo by Arlene Koziol
After the first nest we packed up and headed to the second nest that was on land owned by the Hollander family. Shortly after getting set up, Gene played the call and it was not long before both adults were in the net. The adults were banded and Mark asked Gene about banding the young. Gene replied “we are not going to climb the tree since the nest is in a poor position to reach by climb”.
Gene has been following the transmitted female that is still in the same area where she was banded. The Jacobs brothers attached 14 transmitters to adult birds from 2018 -2020. Gene and John knew that a few red-shoulders were found on (CBCs) and two of the birds wintered in Wisconsin including one that stayed around the nesting area. Other birds migrated south with the farthest wintering over 900 miles away near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Thanks to everyone that helped with the banding effort. We look forward to following the female and plan on providing location updates.
Written by Mark Martin and Susan Foote-Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary resident co-managers; and Arlene Koziol, Madison Audubon volunteer and conservation photographer
Cover photo by Arlene Koziol
