In a recent column, Roy Exum stated there was no such thing as a Seahawk Bird. With all due respect, it might be possible that Lookout Mountain residents have never had the opportunity to see a Seahawk. But the fact that Roy has never seen one does not mean they do not exist.
Everyone around here is very familiar with the Snowbird. They are hatched in nests up north in Yankeeland, and eventually they figure out how to fly, and once a hard winter hits with lots of cold and snow, they head south, ending up in the mountains of North Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, and Western North Carolina. Certainly Roy has seen plenty of these Snowbirds during his jaunts around the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Well, the Seahawk Bird is a cousin to the Snowbird. They originate mostly in the Northeastern U.S., primarily New Jersey and New York, and when the cold weather hits, they migrate south, settling between Cape Hatteras and Key West. Seahawks have an affinity for fish, so you will see them mostly hanging around beaches, Roy. I've seen them around Myrtle Beach in January and February. Occasionally, they will appear around golf courses, thinking those golf balls are bird eggs, I presume.
Roy, please rethink your denial of the existence of Seahawks. They look a lot like Seagulls, only they are much larger, and most screech with Brooklyn or Joisey accents.
Mark Regan