Nature Done Wright

Here's the text, from Oct. 23, 1958, edition of the Wyckoff News:

The Fyke Nature Association held its largest field trip to date on Saturday when 33 members gathered at Mt. Peter, N.Y. to take part in operation Hawk-watch.

Mrs. Henry R. Walcott of Wyckoff, Field Trip chairman, reported that the count for the day was 227 migrating hawks which probably exceeds the number seen at any of the other 17 Hawkwatch locations in N.J., N.Y., Conn., Penn., or Maryland..

The Fyke group is taking part in this hawk and eagle study to assist the Montclair Bird Club and the Fish and Wildlife Service which is studying haw'k migration.

Their lookout point is on the property of Andres Restaurant on the mountain top.

Mrs. Robert Phelps of Saddle River, the clubs official recorder, said the most common bird sighted was the large rodent eating hawk, the red tail. Fifty-two of these were seen.

Next to these in number were 46 red-shouldered hawks, a species that feeds almost entirely on rodents, snakes and frogs.

Other hawks identified by the group were 33 sharp-shin hawks, 25 sparrow hawks, 12 marsh hawks, six Coopers hawks, 2 peregrine falcons and 2 pigeon hawks or merlins. Fifty hawks could not be identified.

Chuck Malley of Allendale, and Mrs. Phelps, won the club prize for giving the closest estimate of hawks to be seen.

Other interesting birds sighted were evening grossbeaks spotted and identified by Ned Muller and Nat Woodson of Ridgewood, and a large wedge of Canada Geese found by Bob Mackenzie, also of Ridgewood.