Migration
Like most birds, the hawk migrates in the fall and the spring seasons. Different types of hawks choose separate times in both of the seasons to migrate north or south. The entire autumn migrating season extends all the way from August to half way through December. It has been studied that there are longer migration distances then others. The long-distance travelers tend to begin in early autumn while the short distance travelers start much later. In conclusion, the longer the distance the earlier the bird begins its journey. There have also been a few studies on the relevance of the speed and efficiency of the bird's migration. It is better for a hawk to arrive at its destination as early as possible. This is because the first bird to a new area has the first pick of mates, living area, food, and much more necessities for survival. The more fat a bird has when it starts it's migration, the better chance it has of making the trip safely. Kerlinger states that studies have shown that a bird has more body fat when it begins it's migration, before it leaves, then when it is finished with its travels and has arrived at its destination.
One of the most important part of the hawk's migration is the flight direction because the direction or path the bird chooses to take could greatly affect it's migration. The force of wind is a large variable because it could either throw the bird off course or push it in the right direction, depending on the direction of the wind. To ensure a safer journey, a hawk tries to avoid any large bodies of water in the spring and fall by detouring around a lake or flying along a boarder.
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