JKNatureGallery.com
2008 Red-Tailed Hawk News
Archive March 1, 2008 - March 31, 2008
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March 1: We were not able to search for our hawk family today.
March 2: Mama and Papa were in the area of the third nest they are constructing. An immature male Cooper hawk
appeared hunting not very far off from the nest site. He stayed around for a couple hours, Mama and Papa were not
concerned with his being in the area. Toward the end of the afternoon another hawk appeared, it seemed like a Red-Tailed
hawk, however, it was difficult to determine. This hawk appeared around this time last year as well in the same area. The
hawk was very lightly colored, large and more stocky than most Red-Tails. It didn't sit around much in one spot long
enough to see details and was high up in the trees. At one point it came close to the new nest and Mama appeared very
quickly and chased it off. I did get two images from a distance and will post them with the Cooper hawk and images from the
past week.
March 3: Mama and Papa were in the area of the third nest they are constructing once again today. Shortly after finding
them they started copulating. When they were finished they sat next to each other for a while then Papa started to bite on
nearby branches. He didn't break any off for his nest but selected a few different branches to bite on. Mama then left and
soared around the immediate area. Mama eventually flew off the West and Papa flew off to the East. Papa stayed in sight
as he patrolled the Eastern section of his territory. Mama disappeared from sight beyond the tree line. She returned about
an hour later landing in a tree near her third nest. Papa landed on a tall apartment complex antenna and was still there
when we left the area. I will be archiving the recent news for February soon, it can always be accessed via the news archive
contents page.
March 4: We were not able to search for our hawk family today.
March 5: We were not able to search for our hawk family today.
March 6: It appears that Mama has produced her first egg(s) of the season. Mama spent the afternoon sitting on her new
nest located in a very mature tall white pine about sixty feet up. This is the very first time that our Briarwood hawks have
selected tree for their nesting season. At one point a squirrel approached the nest, Mama chased the squirrel away
spreading her wings and strongly vocalizing, in this process she didn't leave the nest entirely. The squirrel got the message
and left immediately. The first egg must have been produced either 3/4 or 3/5 the two days we weren't able to search for
our hawk family. We will continue to carefully watch Mama the next few days. I will post new images at some point tomorrow.
March 7: Mama continues to sit on her nest, the next 24 hours we will receive very heavy rain in the area. To confirm
Mama produced her first egg(s) of this nesting season on either 3/4 or 3/5. The position of the nest has very dense white
pine branches overhead and on the sides. Mama will be more protected from the weather compared to her prior nests
situated on urban structures. Please see the many new images from 2/16 to present, including Mama sitting in her new
nest that I have added to the raptor photo gallery on page 20. Additional good news, Pale Male & Lola have produce their
first egg(s) of this nesting season on 3/6 a day or two after our Briarwood family. Red-Tailed nesting season is now
officially well on its way. Stay tuned for continued updates and new images.
March 8: The heavy rain interfered with us being able to search for our hawk family today. Please see the many new
images from 2/16 to present, including Mama sitting in her new nest that I have added to the raptor photo gallery on page
20. Additional good news, Pale Male & Lola have produce their first egg(s) of this nesting season on 3/6 a day or two after
our Briarwood family. Red-Tailed nesting season is now officially well on its way. Stay tuned for continued updates and new
images.
March 9: The nest survived the strong winds and all looked fine. Today there were some strong wind gusts and the nest
appeared very secure in the mighty pine tree. Papa provided relief for Mama this afternoon so she could fly around and
eat, Mama seemed to have a full crop. When Papa left the nest and joined Mama at the top of a tall apartment building it
took only minutes for Mama to return to the nest in a fast stoop. She settled in and Papa decided to fly off to the West.
When we left Mama was still in the nest and Papa had not returned from his earlier flight. Please see the many new images
from 2/16 to present, including Mama sitting in her new nest that I have added to the raptor photo gallery on page 20.
Additional good news, Pale Male & Lola have produce their first egg(s) of this nesting season on 3/6 a day or two after our
Briarwood family. Red-Tailed nesting season is now officially well on its way. Stay tuned for continued updates and new
images.
March 10: We were not able to search for our hawk family today.
March 11: Searching for our hawk family with no camera in hand today we visited the nest. Mama must have been
hunkered down this afternoon as she was not visible in the nest, Papa didn't seem to be around either. Searching for
Papa, a Blue Heron appeared flying above and landed in a tree for a short time. A few minutes after and a couple hundred
feet to the NE a hawk landed in a tree. We thought at first glance it was Papa only to find out upon closer observation that
it was potentially a Rough-legged hawk with the remnant of a squirrel in his talons. A while later on the way home Papa
finally appeared chasing the Rough-legged hawk out of his territory. Not very long after this Mama appeared also chasing
a hawk, this appeared to be the same Red-Tailed hawk we spotted last week with a very tattered tail. Mama made very
short work of chasing this hawk out of the area and in a very fast stoop she returned to her nest. All seemed fine as we left
the area.
March 12: Please see the press release issued (click here) today by The Parks Department and NYC Audubon regarding
additional information on Pale Male and Lola's nest modifications, egg analysis and more...
March 13-14: We were not able to observe our hawk family on these days. Please see the press release issued (click
here) today by The Parks Department and NYC Audubon regarding additional information on Pale Male and Lola's nest
modifications, egg analysis and more...
March 15: Just as I had arrived at the nest today there was a disturbance. It seemed that Papa had been sitting near the
nest when he vocalized and chased an intruder. Unfortunately my vision was obscured by the white pine tree that the nest
resides in as Papa flew off in a direction away from my vantage point in pursuit. He landed high in an Oak tree about 50
yards to the East of the nest where he stayed for a while before flying off to the West. I didn't see what he was chased
away from the area. Mama stayed in the nest, shortly after she chased off a squirrel that approached the nest from below
as it climbed up the main trunk of the white pine. The squirrel left very quickly. Later in the day a Great Blue Heron was
flying around about 100 yards to the South of the nest, it landed on the ground and in a few different trees on different
occasions. I have added images of the nest and its view from the ground in the Raptor Gallery on page 20 and Page 21
March 16: We were not able to search for our hawk family today. I have added images of the nest and its view from the
ground in the Raptor Gallery on page 20 and Page 21
March 17-18: We were not able to search for our hawk family today. I have added images of the nest and its view from the
ground in the Raptor Gallery on page 20 and Page 21
March 19: On this very rainy day Mama diligently sat on her nest. The protection from the white pine tree as we previously
commented did provide much greater protection from the elements than her prior nests. Mama looked relatively dry
compared to other rain storms from past seasons. I didn't obtain any new images today due to the weather.
March 20-21: We weren't able to observe our hawk family on these days. However, on a trip to Westchester Friday we
discovered another pair of Red-tailed hawks in Queens. A pair of Red-tails were soaring over the Clearview Expressway
near and to the North of 35th avenue. We also observed four additional pairs of Red-tails on the Westchester side of the
Throgs Neck bridge.
March 22: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. However, we spent time at the Queens County Farm
Museum. On our way home we observed the original Red-tails in their typical territory. Shortly after we noticed another pair
of Red-tails we have not seen prior to today. There appears to be a second pair of Red-tail hawks near the Clearview
Expressway along the Grand Central Parkway. The original pair I had been aware of for some time resides about a half
mile East of the Clearview Expressway with their territory at the Grand Central Parkway going to the South. The newly
identified pair of Red-tails have a territory at the Grand Central Parkway going to the North along the Clearview
Expressway. This is the second pair of Red-tails newly identified in Queens since yesterday.
March 23: Aside from Papa circling high in the sky and making a major stoop back to his nest area this afternoon we
weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Please see the prior posts above regarding the two newly identified Red-tail
hawk pairs in Queens March 20-21 and March 22.
March 24: A wonderful day, Mama continues to sit on her eggs and a visit from either Ivy or Chief SE of the nest a few
hundred yards away. I need to examine the photos more closely to determine the identity of last seasons youngster. After a
short visit Papa politely chased off the youngster. We also had a visit from a Great Blue Heron, it landed on the ground and
in nearby trees. I will post new images Wednesday.
March 24: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. I will post new images Wednesday.
March 25-26: We weren't able to observe our hawk family on these days.
March 27: Papa was soaring high in the sky drifting East to West in figure eights. After a short time he returned to his nest
site in a fast stoop. We were not able to visit Mama today.
March 28: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. However, we did observe one member of the Red-tail hawk
pairs that reside at the Hutchinson River Parkway near Co-op City. A couple of projects have delayed my posting new
images, I will post new images soon.
March 29: Mama continues to sit on her nest. We didn't see Papa today. The rest of the day we spent at Jamaica Bay,
very active with numerous bird species. To list a few, Immature Northern Harrier, Red-winged Blackbird, Snow Geese,
Osprey, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Blue Heron, Ruddy Ducks. One of the more interesting of the day the American
Oyster Catcher with their long reddish bill.
March 30: Mama left her nest for a short fly. She stayed just West of the nest for only a few minutes and then made a very
quick return to her nest.
March 31: We were not able to observe our hawk family today.