Migration: Eyes on the Sky

Birdability Captain, Gary Herritz, holding a Black Skimmer.

*** Bird held with all applicable state and federal permits in place.***

World Migratory Bird Day is a fitting time to delve into the next chapter of Gary Herritz's migration series. Gary's birding journey isn't just about the incredible species he encounters; it’s a story of adaptation and resilience and birding while disabled. When his apartment complex adopted a "3x rent" income policy, making housing unaffordable on SSDI, Gary made a bold choice—he hit the road, stepping well outside his comfort zone and turning his vehicle into a mobile home for birding adventures. His latest stop? Tubac, Arizona, where the skies come alive with raptors at the HawkWatch International site. In "Eyes on the Sky," Gary’s focus sharpens on the marvel of long-distance raptor identification, as he shares the thrill of seeing lifer species like the Common Black Hawk. With Birdability Week approaching, we invite you to read Gary’s story, which speaks to the power of birding as a form of connection and resilience, especially in the face of life's challenges. This is the second in a series of posts as Gary navigates living and birding with a disability while on the road -  stay tuned for more updates from Gary’s ongoing birding journey!

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  Although this is the second in my “Migration” series, it is slightly out of order due to procrastination, COVID-19, Birdability Week (happening the 3rd week of October, please check it out!), and Hawktober. My next submission will include some cool Texas stuff followed by Arizona hotspots. Enjoy! 
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    Tubac, Arizona. More specifically, Ron Morriss County Park. When I pulled in there was a sandwich board with “Tubac Hawkwatch” across the top with a logo I recognized: HawkWatch International (HWI). In the past, friends had told me if I ever had the opportunity to spend some time at a HWI site, I would learn more about raptor identification than any field guide could teach me. They were not wrong. 

   I arrived in late February and the sightings list was understandably scant. As much as we would like migration to happen when it's convenient for us, I knew it was going to take some time, and that's one of the few things I had to offer. Some of the lifer raptors I was hoping to see were: Common Black Hawk (the star of the show), Swainson's Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and Short-tailed Hawk. By the time I would leave in late March, all would be checked off my life list. 

Common Black Hawks. G. Herrtz

Common Black Hawk

On Leap Day, February 29th a dark dot was seen in the distance. There were murmurs and whispers of it looking different than all of the birds we had seen up to this point. Then, as is tradition with the first sighting of the season, the primal yell went out: “BLAAACK HAWWWK!” And with that, the greatest show on Earth- migration- was underway. 

   Common Black Hawks have a very limited breeding range in the United States and a large portion pass over Tubac on their annual flights. Mountains to the east and west “funnel” the birds over Tubac and the Cottonwood trees provide an excellent overnight roost for the tired birds. Each morning when the thermals begin to rise, so do the Black Hawks that spent the night, as their journey is not yet complete. 

   Part of my disability allows (forces) me to hyper-focus on things I enjoy and find interesting. Whether It be the ocean or the desert, looking through optics at birds is high on that list. I wanted to learn long-distance raptor ID and I was in the right place. Although it may be a skill seldom used, I now feel confident in being able to identify these birds from a long distance. 

   I can't thank the HWI staff enough for the information they shared, most of it unknowingly through just doing their jobs. As my friends told me before, I will tell you now: if you ever have the chance to spend some time at a HWI site, don't pass up the opportunity.