Coopers on Coopers

Participants of our November 5 nature walk to Suffolk County Farm were treated to a hands-on ornithology lesson from long-time GSBAS member Mike Cooper.  As we were walking along, we came across a dead Cooper’s Hawk on the ground. With the bird in hand, Mike spread the feathers and pointed out the primary feathers of the hawk. He went on to explain that certain bird species have one or more marginate (notched) primaries that can be helpful in identifying species or aging the bird. This bird happened to have 5 marginate primaries, as with all other accipiters. – Vera Copogna