BIRD MONOGRAPHSx by Donald Wilkinson 
     
    
   
   
    
     SHARP-SHINNBD HAWK (Accipter striatus) 
     
    
   
   
    
     Order: FALCONIFORMES Species #: 13-03-103 
     
     Family: ACCIPITRIDAE - Woodpeckers 
     
     Distribution: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Extends from the northern tree limits of North America, from coast to 
     
     coast, south through Mexico, Central America, to Northern Argentina and 
     
     Uruguay. Also the West Indies. Some movement of Canadian birds south in 
     
     winter, otherwise considered a resident species. 
     
     Nest: A twig platform in a dense conifer, oak, or other woodland tree. 
     
     ‘ Inhabits highland forest of the tropics to-3,000 metres altitude. -Also 
     
     utilizes forest edges, second growth, open woodland, pastures, and 
     
    
   
   
    
     clearings. 
     
     Eggs: 3 to 5; bluish, spotted. 
     
     Diet: Birds, squirrels, lizards, rodents, other small mammals and insects. 
     
     Song: High 'ke-keéke-ke" cackling call near the nest and when training young to 
     
     hunt; also squealing cries. 
     
     size: 25 to 36 cm (10 to 14 inches). V 
     
     Note: Many bird identification books concentrate on the feather patterns and 
     
    
   
   
    
     colours or wing shapes and say little about the behaviour of the bird 
     
     which can be invaluable in the field. The next time you are struggling 
     
     to identify a distant flying raptor look for the characteristic series of 
     
     flaps interspersed with a glide behaviour of the accipters (woodland 
     
     hawks). Use caution as they will use soaring to capture thermal lift. 
     
     The book Hawks in Flight by Pete Dunn, David Sibley and Clay Sutton 
     
     provides a wealth of information on identifying hawks. 
     
    

    
     Illustration: See cover. 
     
    
   
   
    
     SAYING GOODBYE: Dan MCASkill 
     
    
   
   
    
     In different languages, saying goodbye means many things. With good friends on 
     
     the Island, it really means "until we meet again". No matter how it is said, it is 
     
     always difficult. So it is with difficulty that we say goodbye to the Rev. Donald 
     
     Wilkinson and his family. Donald has been one of the good things that has happened 
     
     to the Society in the past decade. 
     
    

    
     Despite a busy schedule with his congregation and family, he was and is a true 
     
     friend to our Society. He appeared at one of our meetings in 1990 and, almost from 
     
     the evening of his arrival, conveyed his infectious love of nature. Through the past 
     
     7 years he has been an active participant in our meetings, provided wonderful slide 
     
     shows on waterfowl, judged our slide show, illustrated and wrote a column on birds 
     
     for the newsletter, served as Director in charge of publicity for our evening 
     
     presentations, and much more. 
     
    

    
     Donald, it is with real regret that we send you off to Calgary. We wish you 
     
     lots of "lifers" and know that you will quickly establish yourself with the local 
     
     birding scene there. We will think of you often when we tell birding stories here on 
     
     the Island. Thanks for all that you and your family have given to the Islanders who 
     
     were fortunate enough to cross your path. We sincerely appreciate it and wish you 
     
     the best in Calgary! 
     
    
   
   
    
     PS - Enjoy the birding in the mountains and sloughs.