Page 16 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 11-18-2015

Local NewsPage 16 • Nov. 18, 2015
North Woods Hawk Trapping
Falconer’s phone call launches
Superior Adventure for CL outdoorsman
by Lowell Washburn
The big female goshawk was
growing weary. Drifting southward
above the Ontario wilderness, the
hawk had been on the wing for a long
while. Although she had killed and
eaten the better part of a snowshoe
hare the day before, the energy gained
from that meal was waning. She
had been empty for several hours now
and growing pangs of hunger were a
constant reminder that the migrating
raptor was in need of a meal. But
the cold autumn wind had shifted
to the northwest and was currently
providing a free ride of sorts. The
forested landscape was rolling by at an
accelerated pace. In spite of increasing
hunger, the raptor pressed on.
Two Harbors, MN. --- I
could tell by the excitement in Ben
Ohlander’s voice that something
extraordinary was about to happen.
A Minnesota falconer and longtime
friend, Ohlander was calling from a
ridgetop located somewhere between
the Canadian border and the north
shore of Lake Superior.
Ben knew that I’ve recently had
a growing desire to capture and train
a new goshawk to use in falconry. A
published authority on the species,
Ohlander has been studying, trapping,
banding, and flying wild goshawks
for decades. When Ben gets excited,
fellow Hawk Heads listen up.
“It’s been raining, but the skies
are clearing and the wind is going
northwest,” said Ohlander. “Things
are really looking good for a big
migration up here. Today will be
very significant; a lot of hawks will be
moving”
“Think you can you make it up?”
he asked.
I love getting to know new
birds. During my time as a licensed
Iowa falconer, I’ve formed a hunting
alliance with many birds of prey.
But my experience with goshawks is
limited. I’ve only flown three; mostly
because the species is hard to come
by. Although they may occur here as
occasional winter stragglers, goshawks
remain a rarity in Iowa. The best way
to obtain a bird for falconry is to travel across northern Minnesota and
to the North Woods.
With a nonresident Minnesota
capture permit and Iowa raptor
import permits already in hand, I
couldn’t think of a single reason to
decline Ohlander’s invitation. “I
can be on the road in 10-minutes,” I
quickly responded.
Big adventures are always best
when shared and I asked my wife,
Carol, if she wanted to ride along.
Fifteen minutes later, we were heading
due north. The miles ticked by until
familiar farm country landscapes were
replaced by northern forest. Arriving
at Duluth, we turned east along the
north shore of Lake Superior. Before
reaching Two Harbors, we pulled off
the main highway and headed north
toward the trapping blind.
The site was located on
prominent ridgeline and was armed
with a pair of large, finely-meshed
nets stretched between wooden poles.
A pulley line was attached to one of
the poles, and a live pigeon wearing
a leather vest is hooked to the line.
The hawk trappers hide
within the confines of the blind -- a
makeshift canvas covered frame with
small observation windows. When
trappers spot an approaching hawk,
the pigeon is hoisted into the air and
then quickly allowed to settle back to
earth. Thinking the pigeon is injured,
the raptor launches an attack. When
attempting to seize its prey, the hawk
hits the wall of near invisible netting
and becomes entangled in the mesh.
The hawk is captured while the pigeon
remains unharmed behind the net.
Hawk Watchers Paradise:
Lake Superior’s north shore is one
the world’s best places to observe
or capture wild goshawks. Each
autumn the lake is visited by tens of
thousands of migrating raptors of all
shapes and sizes. With a width of 160
miles, Lake Superior is the migration’s shock; me or the hooded goshawk. I
greatest obstacle -- an inland ocean
that hawks are reluctant to cross.
When conditions are right, bird
numbers increase exponentially as the
flight stacks up against this watery
barrier. Most hawks eventually turn
west, following the shoreline until
they arrive at the lake’s western tip.
Rounding the horn at Duluth, the
birds turn south again and disperse
Wisconsin. During peak migrations,
hawk trappers may see upwards of
2,500 raptors in a single day. It’s a
sight like no other.
As the big goshawk continued her
journey, endless miles of wilderness
forest passed beneath her wings.
Running on fumes, the hawk needed
a kill. Following the rising air of a
prominent ridgeline, the raptor detected
a sudden flicker of movement. A
hundred yards out front, a medium-
sized bird was fluttering to earth.
Whatever it was, the bird appeared to
be in trouble. Immediately launching
an attack, the hawk’s velocity increased
with each rapid beat of her wings.
Arriving at what was sure to be an easy
kill, the speeding hawk reached to grasp
her prey. Instead, the raptor collided
with an invisible wall of fine netting.
Instantly entangled, the hunter had
become the prey.
The entangled hawk watched in
horror as two strange creatures emerged
from the confines of a small canvas
structure. The creatures, the likes of
which she had never seen, rushed in
her direction. Struggle as she might,
the hawk was powerless to escape.
Arriving at the net, one of the creatures
grasped the hawk by her legs while the
other gently placed a leather hood over
the bird’s head. As the hood’s draw
straps were pulled tight; the sunlight
was eliminated and the world turned
completely and mercifully dark.
Ben Ohlander was delighted
with the catch.
“We’ve trapped a really nice
bird here; she’s the best of the
day,” Ohlander exclaimed while
intentionally stating the obvious.
It was true. The big goshawk
was absolutely stunning. When I first
laid eyes on her, I became so caught
up in the reality of the moment that
it was hard to say who was in more
don’t remember everything that was
said, but I do remember that I was
chattering like a monkey. By now,
it was late afternoon and the wind
lying down. As we stood atop that
marvelous ridge, a brilliant wilderness
sunset provided a spectacular
conclusion to an incredible outing.
Final Thought: The freshly
trapped ‘gos adjusted quickly and I
offered her food the following day.
In a dimly lit room, I sat with the
hawk on my fist and gently removed
Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
NIACC
Marketplace
open to the
public Friday
Ben Ohlander [left] and Carol and Lowell Washburn savor the moment with freshly The public is invited to attend
trapped northern goshawk. The hawk was captured near Two Harbors, Minnesota; the annual NIACC Marketplace
the Canadian border lies on the forested horizon.-Photo courtesy of Lowell Washburn. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday,
Nov. 20 in the NIACC Activity
her hood while slowly moving a and then another. After eagerly Center. Marketplace features
piece of pigeon breast back and forth consuming every scrap of pigeon merchandise for sale (tax free) by
across the glove. The hawk remained breast, the goshawk allowed me to small business entrepreneurs who are
understandably suspicious, but was replace the hood without protest. NIACC students, staff, alumni and
not totally fearful. Still trying to Our initial manning session ended faculty.
figure out what was happening; it was without incident; a very good start. There will be several vendors
likely that the bird had never even I’m hoping it was just the first step of with a variety of merchandise such as
seen a human until arriving at the trap a long and exciting partnership. art work, jewelry, photographs, books,
site. The hawk stoically refused the Enjoy more wildlife tales online at cupcakes, and Christmas cookies and
meat for a full half hour. But in the Washburn’s Outdoor Journal at much, much more.
end she lowered her head and took the iawildlife.org/blog. The national NACCE Innovation
first hesitant bite, followed by another Award-winning NIACC John
Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
provides college level courses and
degree programs in entrepreneurship,
as well as comprehensive consulting
services for business start-ups, existing
industries and owner transitions in the
North Iowa region. Space is available
for start-up businesses in the North
Iowa Business Incubator. For more
information, contact the NIACC
Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111.
Lime Creek launches Monarch program
by Todd Von Ehwegen of this program is to assist citizens, schools, businesses
Conservation Education manager and communities with planting native milkweeds and
In the 1960s the number of bald eagles was so low wildflowers on their properties to provide critical habitat
that biologists feared they might be headed for extinction. and help turn the tide for monarchs. In addition we will
There wasn’t a single bald eagle nest in Iowa. Today bald be promoting planting nectar plants for bees and other
eagles are one of our greatest conservation success stories. pollinator species, many of which are also struggling.
Why? Because law makers, public and private conserva- These pollinators are a very important component of our
tion agencies, and American citizens took action to protect food supply and their declining numbers should concern
this iconic bird, which now nests in nearly every county in everyone.
Iowa and has been removed from the endangered species Components of the program will include a web site
list. (www.monarchmania.com) full of resources with a section
Today another iconic species needs our help. The to share monarch pictures, videos, and observations; public
monarch butterfly, once common across the countryside training sessions on creating pollinator gardens; assistance
and in everyone’s backyards, has decreased 90 percent in to schools and communities for planting pollinator
numbers since the 1990s. A drastic reduction in milkweed gardens; Monarch Mania! signs to post at registered
plants, especially in the very important monarch breeding gardens; utilizing schools and volunteers to start milkweed
grounds of the Midwest, is believed to be one of the main plants from seed; pollinator demonstration plots; monarch
causes for this decline. and pollinator expert guest speakers; and monarch tagging
Everyone knows what a monarch is, and everyone can programs. Our goal is to establish 50 registered pollinator
do something to help. The only plant monarch caterpillars gardens over the first year of the program.
will eat is milkweed. Without it they cannot survive. So The Monarch Mania! program is being funded by the
the solution seems relatively simple - plant Milkweeds! Lime Creek Nature Center’s Maxine Sanberg Memorial
Fortunately, there are numerous species of milkweeds Fund. Maxine was a long-time volunteer, nature center
that are native to Iowa and all are eaten by monarch board member, and strong supporter of the Lime Creek
caterpillars. In addition, they are relatively easy to grow Nature Center. She was also an avid photographer and
and maintain in backyard gardens and habitat plantings. took many pictures of monarch butterflies over the years.
So, like the bald eagle campaign decades earlier, a massive More information on the Monarch Mania! program
effort to save the monarch butterfly is underway and will be available on our Facebook page and web site as the
gaining traction throughout the Midwest. program develops. Please get involved and help make the
The Lime Creek Nature Center is joining this return of the monarch a conservation success story equal to
effort with our “Monarch Mania!” program. The goal that of the bald eagle!