Texas Fauna Project

Swainson’s Hawk

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Jim Ray, a wildlife biologist who has studied a number of creatures, from birds, to mammals, to macroinvertebrates, in the High and Rolling Plains, here discusses the risks posed to Swainson's hawks. During migration, these birds funnel through mountain passes in Central America where wind turbines are being installed. When they arrive in the Panhandle of Texas, they also face the difficulty of nesting in elm trees, many of which are dying out due to age and/or drought.