River hawks are very important birds to Rio Norte. They have many names such as Ospreys, Fish Hawks, and Sea Hawks. According to allaboutbirds.org, Ospreys are more common than you think. When it’s time to breed, they’re found in Canada, Northern America, and Eastern America. During migration season, they can be found in almost every state in America and most of Mexico. During Winter, they’re usually in South-Western California, Southern Texas, and some parts of Mexico. All year, they’re in North-Western California and states in South-Eastern America and most of Canada and Mexico.
Unlike most large birds, Ospreys do well around humans. They also build huge nests on manmade structures, like telephone poles. According to magazine.scienceconnected.org, they nest in areas of Montana, Mexico, Alaska, California, and more places. These birds also nest in oceans, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, lagoons, swamps, marshes, and pretty much near any water source. Something required when they build nests is that the area has to be high up to avoid predators, such as raccoons. Their eggs also hatch differently from other birds. The first chick can hatch up to five days before the last one does. The older chick is also dominant compared to other hatchlings. If they have enough food, the chicks will share equally. If food is scarce on the other hand, the older chicks will let the younger ones starve. Fun fact, There must be food within 12 miles of the nest.
They eat almost exclusively fish, something rare among hawks. These fish are usually 6-13 inches in length and weigh ⅓-⅔ of a pound. Sea-Hawks eat over 80 species of fish, which is 99% of their diet. On rare occasions, these birds will eat snakes, squirrels, salamanders, and sometimes even other birds. They tend to lean towards more shallow water to live near because they can only dive three feet below the surface. They only go to deep waters if fish are in schools near the surface. River Hawks get most of their water from the fish they eat, drinking water is only necessary on very hot days. Ospreys have pads on the soles of their feet to catch the slippery fish.
When asked what she knows about River Hawks, Rio Norte student Alyssa Hildebrand says, “They’re a type of hawk. I know that they live near many types of water, too.” student Edy Fritschle responds to the same question with, “River Hawks eat fish. They can also travel pretty far during migration season.”
Ultimately, River Hawks are a type of hawk that mainly eats fish. They mostly rely on structures made by humans to build their nests. These birds are very important to Rio Norte because they are the mascot of the school. When anybody thinks of Rio, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely a River Hawk. Next time you look outside, make sure to check for these common birds.