The wanderlust of a ferruginous hawk named 264292 has caught the attention of birdwatchers and researchers alike as her unconventional travel patterns continue to unfold. The hawk, initially tagged and observed in Washington state, is spending her winter far from the usual Californian havens of her species, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Instead, she has taken up residence in the prairie dog towns of southwest Nebraska, an area marked by a mosaic of agriculture and undisturbed prairie.

Experts from WDFW had initially expected hawk 264292 to follow a migratory route commonly traced by her species, which usually includes Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, before returning to Washington. However, she seems to have found a steady food supply in Nebraska's sandhills to seemingly alter her migratory timetable. "She’s bounced around various prairie dog towns in the area," WDFW reported.

This deviation from expected migratory patterns is of significant interest to researchers, particularly in light of changes in available prey species. WDFW, as part of their ongoing research funded by the Woodland Park Zoo’s Living Northwest Conservation Program, has been using trail cameras to monitor the hawks' diets. These attempts are especially pertinent in southeast Washington, where traditional prey like ground squirrels and jackrabbits are becoming scarcer. "We are curious to learn what hawks are foraging on instead," the WDFW stated.

"Stay tuned for more tracking of her progress and nesting season updates," WDFW’s blog post concludes.