JKNatureGallery.com
2008 Red-Tailed Hawk News
Archive April 1, 2008 - April 30, 2008
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April 1: We were not able to observe our hawk family today. I will be archiving the Current Red-tailed hawk news for the
month of March over the next couple days, it can always be accessed via the News Archives link
April 2: Mama continues to incubate her eggs, all seems well. Later in the day Ivy visited circling above seemingly enjoying
the day. She stayed in the area about ten minutes and then proceeded to the East and out of sight. I will be archiving the
Current Red-tailed hawk news for the month of March over the next couple days, it can always be accessed via the News
Archives link
April 3: At first we couldn't see Mama in her nest. After a few moments her head appeared just above the twig layer. Papa
was keeping an watchful eye on his nest from an antenna to the West on a very tall apartment complex. Eventually, he
circled the area for a while. Later in the day he flew off the South East, shortly after in the distance a large flock of pigeons
took off in the area Papa entered. We could not see if Papa made a catch or just provided an incentive for the pigeons to
go on the move. I will be archiving the Current Red-tailed hawk news for the month of March over the next couple days, it
can always be accessed via the News Archives link
April 4: We weren't able to observer our hawk family today. I will be archiving the Current Red-tailed hawk news for the
month of March over the next couple days, it can always be accessed via the News Archives link
April 5: Upon arriving at Mama and Papa's nest today, Mama was just returning to the nest after politely chasing Ivy from
the area. Once Mama was back in the nest she settled in and after a short time began moving around. It appeared she
may have been rolling her eggs. She was clearly fussing over something in the nest for a number of minutes. A trip to
Jamaica Bay once again didn't disappoint with an abundance of water birds. I will be archiving the Current Red-tailed hawk
news for the month of March over the next couple days, it can always be accessed via the News Archives link
April 6: Mama continues to sit on her nest, we didn't see Papa today. I will be archiving the Current Red-tailed hawk news
for the month of March over the next couple days, it can always be accessed via the News Archives link
April 7: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. However, Ivy soared over the Eastern section of her parents
territory late this morning before flying off to the North East. I will be archiving the Current Red-tailed hawk news for the
month of March over the next couple days, it can always be accessed via the News Archives link
April 8: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today.
April 9: Upon arriving at the nest today I couldn't see anyone in the nest, I didn't see our hawk parents in any of their
nearby favorite spots either. Thankfully, after some time went by I noticed Mama's head pop up just above the twig layer
and take a full 360 degree scan from her vantage point, all was fine. She is still sitting on her eggs. After a while of
observing Mama, I decided to search for Papa since he was not in the immediate area. A long walk turned up nothing, so I
checked on Mama before leaving the nest for the day, all was still quiet as she took in her view from the nest. On my way
home Papa appeared on his favorite vantage point near and just West of his nest. He stayed there at least fifteen minutes
and until I couldn't see the building anymore as I continued on my walk home.
April 10-12: We weren't able to observe our hawk family on these days.
April 13: We observed Mama for a couple hours this afternoon during this time Mama sat higher in her nest compared to
all the previous days we have observed her. There was not much activity, Mama didn't move around much at all, no egg
rolling or feeding and no visits from Papa. Mama's position in the nest is curious, an egg may have hatched and she now
using different locations in the nest as she did last season. We are now in the time to hatch compared to last seasons
nesting schedule. We will have to watch more closely for any feeding activity into the nest bowl over the next few days to
confirm a possible hatch or more.
April 14: Papa was sitting on one of his two most favorite high spots on an apartment complex watching his nest when we
arrived today, he stayed on this spot until just before we left an hour later. During this time we observed Mama once again
sitting higher in her nest than usual. The timing is about right for a hatch and we can only speculate at this point that one
or more of her eggs has hatched. At one point Mama stood up and looked in the nest bowl for a while and proceeded to sit
on the outer edge for a short time. She then moved around the nest bowl slowly and methodically. After repositioning
herself, she then very carefully sat back in the nest bowl. We observed this type of behavior from Mama last season after
there was a hatchling in the nest. We hope to see feeding activity on one of our visits so we can confirm that we do have
hatchlings.
April 15: Mama was very relaxed in appearance today and once again was sitting high in her nest. Papa appeared shortly
after we arrived landing on a tall apartment building just to the West of the nest. He stayed there for about 20 minutes and
disappeared. There were no nest exchanges or feedings during the time we were present and Mama quietly kept an eye
on her surroundings. We were still not able to confirm through Mama's behaviors if there is a hatchling, although we
suspect she has had at least one hatch. If we don't see any feeding activity during our visits it will probably be at least a
week before we will see any signs of a little white fuzzy head appearing above the twig layer around the nest bowl.
April 16: We observed our hawk family for over three hours. It is becoming very apparent that there is a hatch based on
Mama's behavior. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm that there is a hatch until we see Mama feed a hatchling or see one of
them when they are a bit larger in size. Papa landed in an Oak tree just West of his nest where he had food stored on a
large branch, he consumed some of the meal and then delivered the rest to Mama. Papa delivered food to Mama about
5:45pm and she didn't start eating it or feeding her young prior to our having to leave just before 6pm. There were no nest
exchanges while we were observing today.
April 17: Upon arriving at the nest today Papa was sitting just a few yards to the east of the nest in a neighboring tree
keeping an eye on his family. Mama was not in the nest and we could not find her in the general area. Papa stayed in his
tree for about 30 minutes when he flew off to another tree a bit further to the east, he started working on a branch that had
some shredded wood fibers either from a prior break or maybe he had worked on it prior to this visit. After struggling for
five minutes he broke off the branch, he flew back to a tree just West of the nest and rested there for a few moments with
the branch in his beak. Papa then made his approach to the nest and worked the branch into the nest near the nest bowl.
He stayed about ten minutes, he checked the nest bowl carefully before taking post in another tree just to the South East
of his nest. Papa stayed there about another thirty minutes when he made a fast flight low to the ground in a Westerly
direction looping back to the East landing on a Cedar tree and vocalized. A few seconds after Mama approached from the
West, he flew up to great her as he continued to vocalize Mama responded with her own vocalization. Papa flew off to the
West and Mama landed above me in a very tall Oak tree just yards from her nest. She was higher than the nest and
probably had a view into her nest bowl from this position. She stayed here for 45 minutes when we had to leave for the day.
Although we cannot definitively confirm hatches, it appears very clear that there are youngsters in the nest based on the
parents behaviors over the last few days. I hope to post new images from the last couple days by this weekend.
April 18: Today we were delayed visiting our hawk family. All was quiet, Mama was sitting up on the edge of her nest bowl
keeping an eye on her family. Papa was off to the West on his tall apartment building antenna watching his territory and the
nest. During the short time we were there nothing much was happening and all was fine when we left. We visited Jamaica
Bay after our time with our hawk family. The many Tree Swallows were very active, there were about ten Glossy Ibis, a
Swan Family and there two Cygnets, Little Blue Heron, the two nesting pairs of Osprey's, numerous Red-winged Blackbirds
and Robin's, Song Sparrow's, Brant Geese and a wide variety of ducks.
April 19: All continues to be fine at the nest. Mama was once again sitting up on the edge of her nest and Papa once again
kept watch from his tall apartment building antenna. We were not able to stay very long today and all was quiet when we
left.
April 20: We were not able to observe our hawk family today.
April 21: Upon arriving at the nest this afternoon Mama was sitting higher than her nest in a tall Oak tree and about 50 feet
to the West of her nest keeping an eye on things from above. Behavioral observations and analysis of our hawk parents
are no longer needed to determine a hatch. At 4:27pm this afternoon after observing the nest for just under 1.5 hours we
observed the very first sighting of a little white fuzzy head bouncing up above the twig layer in the nest bowl. The eyass,
probably the first one to hatch last week seemed very strong and active. We watched for another 1.5 hours witnessing a
few more movements of the eyass within the nest. It is still very difficult to determine how many there may be, the way this
eyass was behaving it seemed there may be probably at least one more in the nest. More time and observations will be
needed to confirm the eyass count. Mama stayed on her high Oak branch the entire time, there were no feedings and no
sign of Papa during these three hours. Please see the new images from the last few weeks that I've posted in the Raptor
Photo Gallery on Page 21 including the first images of the youngster in the nest today. Pale Male and Lola have been
showing signs of subtle behavioral changes at their nest since late Sunday afternoon. We hope good news will follow for
this hawk pair as well over the next few days as we all continue to wish them positive energy and thoughts.
April 22: Papa was very active today. He spent a good amount of time in and around the nest. On many occasions Papa
found new branches to harvest from nearby trees and continued his upkeep of the nest delivering and arranging these
new materials. While he was at the nest Papa regularly checked on his young. Mama was not near the nest during the time
we observed, she seemed to be hunting in the central section of their territory to the North and East of her nest. Today we
noticed there appear to be at least two eyass's in the nest, during one brief moment we were nearly positive two heads
popped up simultaneously. Please see the new images from the last few weeks that I've posted in the Raptor Photo Gallery
on Page 21 including the first images of the youngster in the nest.
April 23: Mama was back in her nest today sitting near the perimeter of the nest bowl. There was a mild but constant
breeze this afternoon. During the two hours we were observed Mama she didn't feed her young, it seemed that there was
food in the nest as Mama was chasing the flies away. Papa was checking on his territory from high above as he circled
over a couple times. Today we only noticed one of the Eyass's pop up and move about in the nest. At one point the eyass
backed near the edge of the nest bowl and pooped (white paint) over the edge of the nest. Please see the new images
from the last few weeks that I've posted in the Raptor Photo Gallery on Page 21 including the first images of the youngster
in the nest.
April 24: We were not able to observe our hawk family today.
April 25: Mama wasn't in the nest when arrived today and Papa didn't seem to be in the immediate area. There was no
activity in the nest. A few moments past and I heard a Squirrel that didn't sound happy, so I explored a bit further to
discover Mama sitting one tree away within 50 feet to the North of her nest keeping and eye on things. I observed Mama for
about an hour, she stretched her wings a few times during this time and seemed very comfortable as the sun illuminated
her with a warm glow. I decided to go back to the nest and see if any activity could be seen, unfortunately it was very
minimal. A quick wing tip here and a quick head popping up there. The eyass's appeared to be at the backside of the nest
bowl that is more obscured with pine branches making it very difficult to obtain any new images. During the time I had been
observing Mama and the nest I did hear other indications that Papa may have been in the area to the South, however, I
didn't see anything with my binoculars, the trees are now obscuring long range observation as their beautiful new leaves
are starting to get bigger. Papa did finally appeared on his favorite apartment antenna and stayed there for the last half
hour before I left for the day. Mama had decided to relocate herself to a neighboring tree to the South East of her nest still
within 50 feet range and was still there when I left. I will post new images of Mama at some point on Sunday.
April 26: We were not able to observe our hawk family today. I will post new images of Mama at some point on Sunday.
April 27: Early this afternoon Mama watched her youngsters from an Oak tree just thirty feet from her nest. One of the
eyass's was active for a while as it flapped its wings and popped up and down in the nest. Papa once again observed his
family from his favorite tall apartment building antenna to the West of the nest. Mama stayed in the Oak tree the entire hour
we observed her, no feedings occurred wile we were present. Please see new images of Mama from 4/25 and today along
with a new image of the eyass in the nest in the Raptor Gallery on page 21.
April 28: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today due to the very rainy weather. Please see new images of Mama
from 4/25 and today along with a new image of the eyass in the nest in the Raptor Gallery on page 21.
April 29: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Please see new images of Mama from 4/25 and 4/27 along
with a new image of the eyass in the nest in the Raptor Gallery on page 21.
April 30: Papa was watching over his family today when we arrived at the nest in a tall Tulip tree. The youngsters were
very quiet and must have been sleeping during the time we spent observing our hawk family. Mama appeared 45 minutes
later landing several feet away from Papa. Shortly after Mama settled on her branch Papa left flying off to the West. Mama
showed interest in a few Squirrels moving about on the ground, she eventually relaxed on her branch high above the
ground with a great view of her nest and stayed there the remainder of the time we were present. Please see new images
of Mama from 4/25 and 4/27 along with a new image of the eyass in the nest in the Raptor Gallery on page 21. I will post
new images from today of Mama and Papa on Thursday.