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~~ VI < -~ On
January 14, 1976
by J. L. Biesecker
Buteo lagopus has been
visiting in the Donegal area
since the holidays. He
created quite a stir in our
household when first notic-
ed. In early December
someone reported twice
seeing an immature Bald
Eagle along Route 441 near
Vinegar Ferry Read. I half
doubted the report and at
the same time hoped that it
was accurate.
Late one afterncen, just
after Christmas, while driv-
ing along Engles Tollgate
Road, I spotted it sitting on
a telephone pole. My first
thought was also immature
Bald Eagle.
However, as he lifted into
the air, I knew that he was
not an Eagle. Although he
was very dark and had
Buteo lagopus is not a bald eagle
feathered legs, the feathers
went all the way to the toes,
not halfway down the tarsus
as the Eagles do. The bill
was not as heavy as the
Eagle’s and the feet were
small, more suited to
catching mice than fish.
Here was a very ‘dark and
beautiful Rough-legged
Hawk. As if to give ample
opportunity to confirm my
decision, the next morning
he spent five leisurely
minutes circling my back
yard, looking over the
several old fat hens scratch-
ing about in the morning
sun. I was happy to see him,
but not when I realized what
he was watching. My
presence and the size of my
Orphington hens probably
helped the Rough-led decide
to look elsewhere for break-
fast. Although these hawks
are large, their primary food
Young hunters should keep
their 75-76 hunting licenses
PA’s young hunters are
reminded to hang on to their
1975-76 hunting licenses,
rather than throw them
away at the end of the
hunting season.
Youths under the age of
16 must show proof they
have either completed a
hunter education course or
have held hunting licenses
in PA or ancther state in a
pricr year before being
eligible to purchase hunting
licenses.
Some who have taken
hunter education courses
have lost their certification
cards, and have difficulty
proving their eligibility
when they go to purchase
new hunting licenses.
If a youth has a previous
hunting license, this is
sufficient proof that he or
she is eligible for another
license.
Late game seascens underway
The late small game and
whitetail seasons opened on
Friday, December 26.
Small game species which
may be hunted from De-
cember 26 through Satur-
day, January 17, include
pheasants of both sexes in
northern PA, and cottontail
rabbits, squirrels, and
grouse statewide. Daily and
possession limits for these
species are: pheasants, two
and four; cottontails, four
and eight; squirrels, six and
twelve; and grouse, two and
four.
Deer of any age or sex are
available from December 26
to January 17 te archers
throughout the state who
have not already taken a
whitetail by that time.
HUNTING CALENDAR
January, 17—small game,
Canada goose and archery
deer seasons close
January 17—mink and
muskrat trapping seascn
closes
January 19—crow hunt-
ing season opens
56,000 bucks felled this year
The PA Game Commis-
sicn has received deer kill
report cards from mere than
56,000 successful buck hunt-
ers thus far this year. The
figure is about 3,000 ahead
of the pace in 1974.
Report cards are ne _ arg subject to.prosecution, .
longer a part of the hunting
license, but can be obtained
from the Game Commission.
Successful hunters are
required by law to report
deer which have been
harvested. Those whe take
whitetails and fail te report
is mice and other rodents.
Adult Rough-leg’s wing-
span can reach S52 inches
and the body length 19
inches, including an unus-
ually long tail. For compari-
son, the Bald Eagle has a
wing span of up to 80 inches
and a length of 32 inches.
Rough-legged hawks occur
in a wide variety of patterns
of buff and brown, some so
dark that they appear black
against the sky, as our
visitor does.
Like his elegant little
cousin, the Sparrow Hawk,
the Rough-leg can hover in
one spot watching for prey.
In their lighter phases, they
have a conspicuous pattern
of dark brown on the belly,
the angle of the wing, and
the banded end of the tail.
The rump is light like that of
the Marsh Hawk.
Remember that this is
usually true for the lighter
phases, but not always.
These birds display consid-
erable individuality in color-
ation. Broad wings and
fan-shaped tail give great
stamina for long periods of
almost effortless soaring.
Watch the area between
Rowenna and Marietta, you
may see our friend sunning
himself on top of a pole,
watching for mice, with eyes
that are eight times keener
than those of a man’s. When
you spot him, take a few
minutes to watch so that you
do not mistakenly believe
that you are seeing our
nation’s symbol. As you
watch consider his traits;
individuality, stamina, long-
range vision, and strength.
On second thought, perhaps
he should be our nation’s
symbol.
SUSQUEHANNA TIMES - Page 9
drawing by J. L. Biesecker
Me hp PEBF EEF IS TINTS www
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4 ’ :
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S
FIRST BAK
we se hal bund of bark.
Member F Dt C