Hank's Hawks Are a Common Sight, if You Pay Attention

Everyone here knows about Hank’s Pumpkintown in Water Mill. Hank’s hosts fall festivities starting in September and ending around Thanksgiving. It brings thousands of people and causes a traffic meltdown on that stretch of Route 27.

But did you know there’s another year-round attraction at Hank’s that doesn’t bring the crowds? Hank’s Hawks, a pair of mated red-tailed hawks that have been calling this place home for years.

I refer to this mated pair as “Hank and Henrietta.” They perch daily on the various structures, such as the weather vane on top of the barn, the children’s slide, or the boardwalk observatory over the cornfield.

When driving by, I always glance over to the weather vane on top of Hank’s barn in hopes of catching a sight of one or both perched and “riding the horse.”

When seen together, they appear to communicate and talk among themselves in their distinct call, a shrill-sounding “kee-eeee-arr.” I imagine their conversation to be much like a human couple’s. For instance, maybe they are discussing household issues, such as nest-keeping duties, or which direction to fly for the best meal.

Another favorite perch of theirs is atop the flagpole at Duck Walk Vineyards. A high perch allows them to scan the fields and vineyard for a tasty vole or mouse.

These hawks appreciate art as well. They perch on the Parrish Art Museum’s latest outdoor sculpture installations. You can get a double dose of nature and art if you are lucky to catch one on top of the artwork.

Red-tailed hawks have been among the most successful raptors in adjusting to urbanization and man-made encroachment. There was a famous and beloved red-tailed hawk in New York City named Pale Male. He nested on top of a building, thrilling spectators who would come to watch him. He inspired the writing of a book, “City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male,” by Meghan McCarthy, and an award-winning documentary, “The Legend of Pale Male.” He lived for 33 years and was the frequent subject of news outlets and trail camera tracking.

Red-tailed hawks are among the most common hawks on Long Island. While their populations were impacted by the era of DDT use, unlike those of American eagles, they didn’t significantly decline.

Red-tailed hawks are diurnal, meaning they hunt day or night. Seeing a red-tailed hawk is a fairly common sight all over the East End. Most people — and, yes, I’m guilty of this, too — pass by them and say, “Oh, there’s a hawk.”

However, these raptors are proving their relevance and are now featured in a new large study called “The Red-Tailed Hawk Project,” which can be found online at redtailedhawkproject.org. Due to their abundance and ease of banding, avian researchers are eager to learn more about their different colored morphs and their successful adaptation to our modern world.

Hank and Henrietta can often be seen in the daytime, unless it’s pumpkin season. Due to the daily crowds, they tend to take a break, but they always return to their regular routine once the season ends.

Next time you are on Route 27 passing Hank’s, take notice to see if one of them happens to be posing on one of the many structures we humans erected for our own purposes.