JKNatureGallery.com
2008 Red-Tailed Hawk News
Archive December 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
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December 1- 5: Monday we had another visit from a Kestrel as it circled over our house, luckily I was able to get a couple
of photos before it disappeared to the West. Tuesday Mama spent a couple hours on the chimney of a tall apartment
building in the central section of their territory until dusk when she left to settle in on her favorite fire escape for the night.
Wednesday fledgling three flew to the East just over the rooftops of the homes in the central section of Mama and Papa's
territory. On the 4th Mama was sitting on the top of an apartment building antenna near last years nest site. She appeared
to be resting after a recent meal, I was able to get new images of Mama. Today a juvenile Cooper's Hawk was sitting near
the top of a tall Cedar tree watching for a meal. I was able to get its photograph before the Blue-jays in the area chased it
away. The Hawkcam was out of service for the last week and today I was able to get it back on-line late this morning. On my
way home I spotted Mama and I think Papa. I didn't have binoculars so I couldn't confirm that it was Papa as he was further
away, it appeared to be him. I will be posting the new images mentioned above in the Raptor Gallery soon.
December 6: Fledgling three flew to the Southeast just over the roof tops of the homes in the area late this morning. Later
in the day a new juvenile Red-tailed Hawk appeared inside the Eastern most section of Mama and Papa's territory, it was
sitting on a lamppost when we observed the newcomer. It was more light colored in appearance with less banding than
Mama and Papa's fledglings. When we left the area the juvenile hawk moved to the roof of an apartment complex across
the street from the lamppost. We continued to search for Mama and Papa, we found them in the Western section of their
territory. Mama was sitting on an antenna located at the top of very tall apartment building. Papa was sitting on the
Western corner of an office building roof that faced their nest of four seasons ago, it is also one of his favorite spots to
observe his territory. Due to the very low light in the late afternoon and the distance we observed them I didn't take any
new images of them today. I have posted new images discussed in the December updates, including images from October
29th to present in the Raptors Gallery on Page 31.
December 7: We weren't able to search for our hawk family today. I have posted new images discussed in the December
updates, including images from October 29th to present in the Raptors Gallery on Page 31.
December 8: Late this afternoon Mama sat on one of her favorite apartment chimneys. She flew off to the West prior to
sunset most likely to get a meal prior to settling in for the evening. I have posted new images discussed in the December
updates, including images from October 29th to present in the Raptors Gallery on Page 31.
December 9: Mama spent time flying over the general area near the 2007 nest. At one point she made a couple of dives
at the top balconies of an apartment building where Pigeons were sitting on the railings. It didn't seem that Mama was trying
very hard but that didn't make the Pigeons feel any more secure. She circled the area for a little while longer before flying
off to the South West and out of sight. Mama did not spend the night on her favorite fire escape this evening. I have posted
new images discussed in the December updates, including images from October 29th to present in the Raptors Gallery on
Page 31.
December 10-11: The weather has been very rainy and we didn't search for our hawk family on these days. I have posted
new images discussed in the December updates, including images from October 29th to present in the Raptors Gallery on
Page 31.
December 12: On my way into NYC I spotted Papa sitting on a building roof very near this seasons nest site late this
morning. Once in NYC I spotted either Pale Male Jr. or Charlotte soaring over some buildings near 5th Ave. and 60th. Later
in the afternoon back in Queens both Mama and Papa were soaring in the central section of their territory together.
December 13: This morning Mama and Papa were soaring over the central section of their territory on this very cold and
windy day. A bit later in the morning a Red-Tailed Hawk flew over our home in a stoop, unfortunately we didn't have time to
identify who it may have been it was gone from sight in a flash, it didn't seem to be either Mama or Papa. Today we spotted
a Red-tailed Hawk in a new area about a mile East of Mama and Papa's territory. It's possible that it could have been the
new Red-Tailed hawk we spotted a few days back sitting in the Eastern section of Mama and Papa's territory, it could be an
off-spring of Mama and Papa or a totally new Red-tailed Hawk claiming the territory. We couldn't get a close observation as
we didn't have binoculars with us at the time. This area has always been a territory of a pair of Cooper's Hawks and they
were also present as we observed the Red-tailed Hawk. All three were chasing after the many Pigeons in the area. Later in
the afternoon we found Mama near this seasons nest as she finished eating a Pigeon. Mama was disturbed by a Squirrel
so she moved to a Pine tree before flying off to the Eastern section of her territory. The Squirrel examined Mama's left over
meal carefully, it then dragged the Pigeon off but decided to leave it behind as the squirrel dashed up to the top of the
tree. Papa was hunting West of Mama in the central section near last seasons nest. As we watched him he made a quick
and short dive into the shrubs and claimed a small rat for his dinner. Papa was in a very shaded area and the late
afternoon setting sun did not provide much extra lighting for photography. Mama settled in early this evening on her
favorite fire escape. New images of Mama, Papa and the Squirrel have been posted on Page 31 and Page 32 in the Raptor
Gallery.
December 14: Papa spent most of his time late this afternoon about one hundred yards to the West of this seasons nest
site. He was hunting Pigeons from the high vantage point of his favorite tall apartment building. The lighting was not so
good for photography at this time of day, so I didn't obtain any new images from today. We didn't spot Mama until we were
on the way home, she was sitting on the chimney of one of her favorite apartment complexes. Shortly after spotting her she
flew off to sleep on her favorite fire escape for the evening. New images from Saturday of Mama, Papa and the Squirrel
have been posted on Page 31 and Page 32 in the Raptor Gallery.
December 16-17: We didn't search for our hawk family on these days due to the rainy weather. New images from
Saturday of Mama, Papa and the Squirrel have been posted on Page 31 and Page 32 in the Raptor Gallery.
December 15: We didn't search for our hawk family today. New images from Saturday of Mama, Papa and the Squirrel
have been posted on Page 31 and Page 32 in the Raptor Gallery.
December 18: Mama was in the central section of her territory late this morning chasing Pigeons and circling overhead.
Eventually Mama soared off to the South out of sight. Early in the afternoon Mama was sitting on an antenna located at the
top of one of the very tall apartment buildings near this seasons nest site. Papa was sitting on his favorite office building in
the Western section of his territory keeping an eye on things. Mama was not sleeping on her favorite fire escape this
evening. New images from Saturday of Mama, Papa and the Squirrel have been posted on Page 31 and Page 32 in the
Raptor Gallery.
December 19: We didn't search for our hawk family on this very snowy day. Late in the afternoon the Cooper's hawk was
sitting in the Elm tree looking for a meal. It didn't stay very long and flew off to the Northeast out of sight.
December 20: We didn't search for our hawk family today.
December 21: Mama was very active today in the central section of her territory, just West of this seasons nest. She was
circling low and hunting Pigeons. We didn't observe any successful hunts but she kept those pigeons very busy and alert.
Eventually Mama flew off to the South and out of sight.
December 22: Late morning we had a few flyovers by the third fledgling from this years nest in the Northeast section of
Mama and Papa's territory. Later in the afternoon Papa was sitting on a security light of the building from last years nest
site keeping an eye on his territory. We didn't see Mama today and she was not using her favorite fire escape this evening.
December 23: Papa was once again sitting on the security light of he building from last years nest site. We weren't able
to spend much time today following our hawk family after spotting Papa. Later in the afternoon I spotted our local Cooper's
Hawk as it made some fantastic high speed aerial maneuvers diving and weaving its way through a very mature Elm tree
and its large branches as it hunted the birds in the area. I wish I had a video camera to record this amazing flight as the
Cooper's Hawk flew towards me and past me to my left chasing after the smaller birds.
December 24: Toward the late morning we had another flyover by the third fledgling as it was proceeding from West to
East and quickly out of sight beyond the tree line.
December 25: On a brief outing today I noticed Papa sitting on a security light on the building from last years nest site.
December 25: On a brief outing today I noticed Papa sitting on a security light on the building from last years nest site.
December 26: In the late morning we had another flyover by the third fledgling this time it proceeded from East to West, it
didn't seem to be hunting at the time it appeared to be just enjoying the day.
December 27: We didn't search for our hawk family today. Mama has not spent many nights this past week on her
favorite fire escape railing. I will be archiving the recent news for the month of November soon, it can always be accessed
via the News Archives contents link.
December 28: Mama and Papa spent a number of hours this afternoon within approximately 200 feet of each other sitting
and watching their territory for the entire time. Mama spent this time sitting on her favorite tall apartment complex and Papa
stayed on last years nest site building security lamp. Papa was actively watching for a meal in the last half hour we
observed him prior to us leaving for the day. He didn't make any attempts for a meal while we watched. Mama had left her
building and flew off to the Southeast and out of sight. She didn't return before we left and she was not sitting on her
favorite fire escape this evening. I will be archiving the recent news for the month of November soon, it can always be
accessed via the News Archives contents link.
December 29: We didn't search for our hawk family today. However, the third fledgling spent a brief moment in the
Eastern section of Mama and Papa's territory late this morning before disappearing beyond the trees. I will be archiving the
recent news for the month of November soon, it can always be accessed via the News Archives contents link.
December 29: We didn't search for our hawk family today. However, the third fledgling spent a brief moment in the
Eastern section of Mama and Papa's territory late this morning before disappearing beyond the trees. I will be archiving the
recent news for the month of November soon, it can always be accessed via the News Archives contents link.
December 30: We didn't see any members of our hawk family today. I have archived the recent news for the month of
November, it can always be accessed via the News Archives contents link.
December 31: This morning the third fledgling was in the central section of Mama and Papa's territory putting on a show.
It spent a good amount of time circling and weaving its way through a mature Elm tree as it chased after a meal. Eventually
it moved onto the East and out of sight. Of course on this occasion I didn't have any camera gear with me so unfortunately
no new images.