JKNatureGallery.com
2008 Red-Tailed Hawk News
Archive May 1, 2008 - May 31, 2008
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May 1: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Please see new images of Mama from 4/30 in the Raptor Gallery
on page 21.
May 2: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Please see new images of Mama from 4/30 in the Raptor Gallery
on page 21.
May 3: Papa was guarding his family today from a nearby tree. On a number of occasions he flew in circles in the
immediate area. Eventually he joined Mama for a while as she had been sitting on a very tall apartment complex West of
the nest. The two youngsters were very active flapping their wings and tumbling in the nest, they appear to be getting very
large.
May 4: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today.
May 5: Shortly after we arrived at the nest today Papa came with lunch for his youngsters. He stayed at the nest for a only
a short time, less then four minutes. It appeared that he prepared the meal or consumed some for himself before leaving it
with his youngsters and then he took off. Papa circled flying low and stayed in the nearby the area keeping an eye on
things. The two youngsters are now in their fourth week and getting large. They were not very active today as it was warm
out, they seemed to be relaxing and staying in the shady portion of the nest.
May 6: Sorry for the delayed postings over the last few days. Today we observed a wonderful surprise in Mama and
Papa's nest, a third eyass!! This was the first time we noticed three youngsters in the nest, all of them are getting very
large and all appear strong and healthy. This is the first time that Mama and Papa have had three eyass's hatch in the last
six seasons. Last year they had three eggs in the nest, two hatched and eventually fledged the nest. Unfortunately, I didn't
have my camera with me today to get an image of all three eyass's together. Hopefully, I will have new images of all three
shortly. I will post new images from the last few days soon.
May 7: Shortly after our arrival this afternoon Papa circled overhead with lunch for his family. He landed on the West side
of the nest. Mama was also in the nest as she was shading her family from the afternoon sun. Two of the youngsters were
sitting up just in front of Mama's chest prior to Papa entering the nest with food. This delivery got the youngsters excited
and also woke up the third eyass as they all went to eat. Papa stayed for about five minutes, after he left Mama started to
feed her young and one of the youngsters ate without being fed by Mama. Fifteen minutes or so after Papa left the nest he
was vocalizing off to the South not very far away. We couldn't see why Papa had been vocalizing as the trees are really
filling out nicely with new leaf growth. I will be posting new images on Thursday including images of all three eyass's sitting
together in the nest with Mama. I will also be archiving the recent news for the month of April in the next couple days that
can always be located via the archive contents link.
May 8: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. I have added new images to the Raptor Gallery on page 22
including images of all three youngsters together in the nest.
May 9: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today due to a very steady rain all day. I have added new images to the
Raptor Gallery on page 22 including images of all three youngsters together in the nest.
May 10: Today all was quiet at the nest. The youngsters were not moving around very much. Mama delivered a rat for
mid-afternoon lunch, she stayed about fifteen minutes and left to sit on the tall apartment building antenna. Shortly after
the youngsters started eating toward the back of the nest, we could only see two heads at any one time. We didn't see
Papa today. I have added new images to the Raptor Gallery on page 22 including images of all three youngsters together
in the nest.
May 11: Upon arriving at the nest today I found Mama sitting in the Tulip tree about 75 feet to the West of her family. She
stayed there for about an hour before leaving to sit on the antenna of the tall apartment building a bit further to the West.
Not long after Papa dropped into the nest with some food, he stayed less than a minute taking off to the East. Seconds
later Mama caught up to him as she zipped just feet over the nest and just yards behind Papa as they flew off out of sight
beyond the trees. Shortly after dropping off food the youngsters started to eat, prior to this there was not much movement
in the nest. One at a time each eyass took turns sitting at the edge of the nest looking down, they all seemed well. Fifteen
minutes later Papa arrived at a neighboring Pine tree chasing a Squirrel, he sat there for a few moments before flying off to
the South landing in an Oak tree where he stayed. The weather started to get very overcast and the light became dim. I will
post new images of Mama and the youngsters in the next day or so.
May 12: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today due to a very steady rain.
May 13: We arrived at the nest very late this afternoon. Mama and Papa didn't seem to be around, unfortunately there
wasn't much time to search for them. During the brief visit there wasn't much activity in the nest. Only two of the youngsters
could be seen moving around low in the nest and neither of them stood up. Hopefully the third eyass is ok.
May 14: Mama and Papa were soaring high above their nest area and took turns sitting on their favorite antennas on the
tall apartment complex West of their nest. At one point they sat next to each other on the antenna for ten minutes. The
youngsters once again remained quiet during the time I was observing them. Once again today I could only see two
youngsters at one time as they moved to the back of the nest or stretched a wing. I can only hope the third eyass is still
doing well. I wasn't able to obtain any new images today as the eyass's didn't sit up while I was watching.
May 15-16: We weren't able to observe our hawk family on these days.
May 17: Once again all was quiet at the nest as the youngsters were resting. We didn't observe any food deliveries in the
mid-afternoon. Mama was in the area, it seemed it was easier for her to soar than sit on her favorite antenna as the wind
was very strong. A number of times we watched her fight the wind to stay in a sitting position on the antenna and keep her
balance. A few times she relented and soared up and off the antenna circling the area. My main concern was to verify if the
three youngsters were doing well. It always seems that we see two at a time but not all three at once. I'm reasonably sure
that we observed all three today. We didn't see Papa today.
May 18-20: We were not able to observe our hawk family on these days
May 21: Mid-morning Mama was flying in large circles in the center of her territory drifting in an Easterly direction. Later in
the afternoon we observed all three eyass's and they are doing fine. One of the youngsters has a very dark head and most
of his feathers. Clearly, this is the first one to have hatched and the oldest. The other two siblings are getting their feathers
as well but their heads are still mostly light in color with hints of brown starting to fill in. We didn't see Papa today.
May 22: We were not able to observe our hawk family today.
May 23: Upon arriving at the nest we initially couldn't see the eyass's. A short time later Papa arrived landing on the top of
a pine tree next to his nest. All three eyass's spotted Papa and started calling out to him. The three youngsters all stood
near the West side of the nest watching Papa. The oldest eyass always seems to claim the center of the nest and now has
very distinct golden chest colors with very well developed feathers on the rest of its body. Papa didn't bring food or visit the
nest, he eventually flew over to a nearby Tulip tree that Mama and Papa both use to keep an eye on their nest. Papa
stayed about 45 minutes in the Tulip tree before flying off. We spotted Mama a bit later chasing an Osprey out of her
territory.
May 24: Two of the three youngsters were up and about in the nest today. One of them actually branched about three feet
away from the nest on a sturdy pine branch 3 inches in diameter. It stayed on this branch the entire time I observed our
hawk family today. The other youngster was moving around from the front to the back of the nest and flapping its wings, on
occasion it got some good lift. I could only see the head of the third eyass at times as it remained low in the nest. Mama
was perched on top of her favorite tall apartment building to the West but didn't stay very long.
May 25: Our young hawks are entering their seventh week and their feathers are filling in very nicely. Once again two of
the three youngsters were sitting tall in their nest today. They were both exercising their wings and getting lift. I wasn't able
to see the third eyass today and I'm getting a bit concerned as it doesn't seem as active the last couple days as the others.
Hopefully, all is okay. Mama circled in the central section of her territory and strongly vocalized as she moved an intruder
Red-Tailed hawk away. This intruder hawk was in the area I had seen Ivy many times. I could not determine if it was Ivy due
to the height and glare from the sun. We didn't see Papa today.
May 26-27: We were not able to observe our hawk family on these days.
May 28: Our young hawks were basically quiet today. Two of them were just sitting around repositioning themselves from
time to time, preening and occasionally exercising their wings. I focused much of my attention watching for the third eyass
as I had not seen it for a number of days now. Unfortunately, we had another day of not seeing the third eyass. I still hope
all is well, during the hours I observed the nest there were no feedings to stir up the youngsters. Mama had been sitting
just North East of the nest and left while I was watching for the third youngster. She joined Papa on top of their favorite tall
apartment complex sitting together on the antenna for about an hour. Eventually Papa left and Mama later vocalized from
her perch as a Osprey flew past her, Mama made her point as the Osprey continued on and out of the territory. Mama then
flew down to her nest as I was leaving the area for the day.
May 29: Finally all three eyass heads were peering down from the nest. Soon after observing all three youngsters Mama
flew into the nest with food. She stayed with them for a few minutes and then hopped onto a branch just outside the nest
for a few moments before relocating to a branch one foot below. Mama stayed here for the next two hours we observed the
nest. The youngsters were at the Eastern side of the nest for most of the time making it very difficult to see or photograph
them. I will be posting new images of Mama and the youngsters soon. Papa must have been nearby to the South East as
the birds in the area were sounding their alarm calls but we didn't see him today.
May 31: A bad weather day, during a short visit all was quiet and normal.
May 30: We were not able to observe our hawk family on today.