Marsh hawks were reported first at 
Washington Harbor and Rock Harbor 
in the summer and fall of 1905 (14). 
Since then, single birds have been 
reported as follows: Passage Island, 
May 24, 1945; Lake Ha Horan, May 17, 
1946; Siskiwit Lake, May 16, 1948; 
Passage Island, May 19, 1950; and 
Siskiwit Lake, May 24, 1950 (25, 29, 
35 , 36) . Shelton saw single birds 
at Passage Island on September 20, 
1961, crossing Siskiwit Bay on 
May 21, 1962, and at the head of 
Duncan Bay on August 21, 1962 (39). 
PANDIONIDAE (Ospreys) 
**43. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus 
(Linnaeus)) 
The osprey is an uncommon summer 
resident. The species occurs on some 
inland lakes, along the shores of 
Isle Royale, and especially on the 
larger harbors. Three adult ospreys 
were observed in 1904 and 1905 at 
Rock Harbor, Siskiwit Bay, and 
Washington Harbor (14, 22 ). Single 
birds were seen again in 1929, 1930, 
and 1941 (6^, 21) . For a long span 
of years there was a large osprey 
nest on the top of Monument Rock, a 
landmark near Tobin Harbor, visited 
by many tourists. A pair was reported 
from this rocky pinnacle in 1944, 
1946, 1948, and 1950 (28, 35, 36, 38). 
The nest has been abandoned in recent 
years, A second nest was located on 
the shore of Lake Richie on the top 
of a white pine snag in 1946 ( 29) . 
More recently single ospreys have been 
seen at Windigo, Hay Bay, and Siskiwit 
Bay (26, 34). Also, Shelton reported 
a nest with one young near Duncan Bay 
in July 1963 (39) . 
FALCONIDAE (Falcons) 
44. Gyrfalcon ( Falco rusticolus 
Linnaeus) 
Johnsson and Shelton list the 
species as a rare winter resident (8). 
*45. Peregrine Falcon ( Falco 
peregrinus Tunstall) 
Although Isle Royale appears to 
provide suitable habitat for this spe¬ 
cies, few records exist, and none veri¬ 
fies nesting. On Passage Island, it 
has been recorded three times during 
spring and summer; 1929, 1948, and 
1961 (21, 36 ). Shelton also recorded 
it at Passage Island and Merritt 
Lake on September 22, 1961, at McCargoe 
Cove on October 10, 1962, and between 
Moskey Basin and Lake Richie on 
March 15, 1962 (39). 
*46. Pigeon Hawk ( Falco columbarius 
Linnaeus) 
The pigeon hawk is an uncommon 
summer resident. It presently appears 
to be a rare migrant; early records 
show it was formerly found in greater 
abundance during migration. Specimens 
were collected and migrating birds 
were observed commonly in August and 
September of 1904 and 1905 (14, 19, 
22). During September 1929, four 
specimens were collected on Passage 
Island (21) . Gilbert in 1946 re¬ 
ported this hawk as a rare migrant 
at Washington Harbor ( 30) . Shelton 
observed a pair copulating at Mott 
Island on May 13, 1962 (39). 
**47. Sparrow Hawk ( Falco sparverius 
Linnaeus) 
The sparrow hawk is a common 
summer resident, breeder, and migrant. 
It has been observed at many locations 
and in many habitats but is seen most 
often near clearings, and in burned- 
over areas. Numerous observations 
have documented the occurrence of this 
species on Isle Royale during the 
spring, summer, and fall months (7^, 
14, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36). 
TETRAONIDAE (Grouse) 
**48. Sharp-tailed Grouse ( Pedioecetes 
phasianellus (Linnaeus)) 
The presence of this grouse on 
Isle Royale is of particular interest 
27 
