1. English and Scientific names:

 

Harris’s Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus

 

  1. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

 

One Adult

 

  1. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) (specific locality)

 

Ascension Parish, north side of US 61 about one half mile west of intersection with Motavit Road.

 

  1. Date(s) when observed:

 

December 26, 2000

 

  1. Time(s) of day when observed:

 

Around 11:00 AM CST.

 

  1. Reporting observer and address:

 

Jay V. Huner

428 Hickory Hill Drive

Boyce, LA 71409

 

  1. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

 

I was returning from a deer hunting trip in the woods between Sorrento and the Sunshine Bridge with George Snyder and John Boyce. They both saw the bird but it would be difficult to identify them as birders – just active sportsmen who noticed the bird to be unlike any hawk they had ever seen.

 

  1. Other observers who Independently identified the bird(s):

 

The bird was adjacent to US 61 but was spending a good bit of time on private property – McElroy Swamp – and I was nebulous about the location because I didn’t want birders trespassing. However, at least one group of birders later reported on LABIRD seeing the bird in approximately the same location within the following week. I simply don’t remember who they were.

 

  1. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

 

Bird was on north side of US 61 perched on a snag across the drainage canal from the highway. Light was good.

 

  1. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

 

Swift 10 x 42 binoculars. Good condition.

 

  1. Distance to bird(s):

 

Approximately 50 yards when first seen from the east bound lane of US 61 and then 25 yards when we turned around and drove back to see the bird in the westbound lane.

 

  1. Duration of Observation:

 

5 minutes.

 

  1. Habitat:

 

Riparian woods between canal and large crawfish ponds.

 

  1. Behavior of bird/circumstances of observations (flying, feeding, resting; including and stress habits in identification: relate events surrounding observation):

 

Bird was perched on a bare snag and basically remained on the snag during the observation period. It turned its head occasionally.

 

  1. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what “should” have been seen: include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species):

 

Large hawk. We were stuck by the overall black body, yellow bill and rufous shoulders. We saw no evidence of a band or bands on the legs.

 

  1. Voice:

 

Bird was silent.

 

  1. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

 

Don’t know of any other species of hawk that is similar enough to be confused with a Harris’s Hawk. Because falconers regularly own Harris’s Hawks, the bird could have been an escapee. We saw no bands on the legs and the people who later relocated the bird did not report bands.

 

  1. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? Attached”):

 

None Taken.

 

  1. Previous experience with this species:

 

I had seen the species in Texas both before and after this encounter.

 

  1. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):
    1. at time of observation:
    2. after observation: Golden Guides Field Guide.
    3.  
  2. This description is written from: ___notes made during the observation (notes attached?); ___note made after the observation (date: ______); _x_ memory.

 

  1. Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain. Yes.

 

 

  1. Signature of reporter __signed Jay V. Huner__ date_June 17, 2011_ time 7:30 AM