A friend of mine who works in the area around Dulles Airport sent me an email requesting information on behavior. Her coworkers report some of the hawks in the vicinity have placed stones (about 2 inches or so long, round, smooth stones) on top of the flat surfaces on the top of the lights on the light pole.

I have never heard anyone describing this type of behavior in any local species of bird and I was curious if anyone had experience with this behavior with any local species.

Thanks in advance,

Chris Barnard
Rockville, MD