West of the Rockies, A Monumental Movement for Birds of Prey Takes Place Every Winter
Try as they might, both professional and amateur birders cannot count the overwhelming numbers of birds of prey that travel from the Northern-most parts of Canada into the arid South of Mexico to find warmer habitat with deeper plunders of food reserves. Although this migration also includes many other bird species like cranes, ducks, geese, mergansers, and more, raptors make up the ruling body of apex aerialists. That body includes eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, harriers, and kites. The migration starts dispersing as early as September and ends in December, when the over-winter living starts. By that time, migrating raptors will have had to find suitable hunting grounds to live in through the rest of the winter. By March, most birds included in the migration head back up towards Canada, but some will have found a new permanent home in their over-wintering grounds.
Try as they might, both professional and amateur birders cannot count the overwhelming numbers of birds of prey that travel from the Northern-most parts of Canada into the arid South of Mexico to find warmer habitat with deeper plunders of food reserves. Although this migration also includes many other bird species like cranes, ducks, geese, mergansers, and more, raptors make up the ruling body of apex aerialists. That body includes eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, harriers, and kites. The migration starts dispersing as early as September and ends in December, when the over-winter living starts. By that time, migrating raptors will have had to find suitable hunting grounds to live in through the rest of the winter. By March, most birds included in the migration head back up towards Canada, but some will have found a new permanent home in their over-wintering grounds.