JKNatureGallery.com
2009 Red-Tailed Hawk News
Archive March 1, 2009 - March 31, 2009
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March 1: Mama and Papa continue to spend time together, mate and patrol their territory. Mama and Papa on numerous
occasions spend time going to and from their new nest fixing it up for this nesting season very close upon us. It is typically
during the first week in March that Mama and Papa start to overnight in their nest. We will continue to observe their
behavior over the next weeks.
March 2: Papa spent a number of hours this afternoon near his new nest. Mama made a number of visits to the nest in
each case we didn't see her bring any new nest materials with her. It appeared that she was making adjustments to the
materials they already had delivered to the nest.
March 3: Mama and Papa spent time this afternoon flying over and nearby their new nest. A few time they disappeared
from sight in the direction of last years nest.
March 4: Mama was eating on top of an apartment chimney late this afternoon, she eventually flew over to the area of last
seasons nest and out of sight. Papa was sitting for a long time on a lamppost near his new nest.
March 5: On a brief visit both Mama and Papa were in the area of their new nest late this afternoon. They were taking turn
sitting on some of the buildings in close proximity to their nest and soaring nearby. On a quick visit in the early evening
Mama didn't appear to be in the nest.
March 6: I didn't see Mama or Papa on my walk today. A visit to the nest in the early evening Mama didn't appear to be in
the nest.
March 7: Mama and Papa were both very active today flying in the area of their new nest. They both made visits to the
new nest and once again they didn't deliver any new materials to the nest. They seem to be comfortable at this point that
the nest is completed. Unfortunately, I was not able to get any new images of Mama and Papa today. A visit to the nest in
the early evening Mama appeared to be in the nest for the first time for the over night period. Weather data: Hi-68, Lo-39,
Overcast.
March 8: Mama was still in her nest when I arrived at noon today. I wasn't able to find Papa while I was around, this is not
unusual for him as he tends to keep a low profile once Mama begins to sit on the nest. He typically is nearby, just hard to
find and he only makes necessary visits to provide food or nest sitting relief. I didn't have enough time to search for him,
when I left the area Mama was still in her nest. Weather data: Hi-66, Lo-40, Mostly cloudy/Light PM drizzle.
March 9: We weren't able to observe for our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-53, Lo-43, Light rain & overcast.
March 10: Papa was very active hunting Pigeons this afternoon and Mama was on the nest doing some maintenance.
Shortly after she settled down in the nest bowl once again, Papa landed on an apartment building antenna to the East
keeping an eye on his family. Mama was out of the nest very late this afternoon sitting on a chimney a couple hundred
yards Southeast of her nest. Papa was taking his turn sitting on the nest and having a meal while she was away. When I left
the area Mama was still on the chimney, it appeared that she had eaten recently as she had a very full crop. Weather data:
Hi-44, Lo-35, Light rain & overcast.
March 11: Mama was eating a meal away from the nest on a chimney to the East as Papa took care of sitting in the nest.
Shortly after I found Mama, Papa decided to join her, he sat next to her patiently and watched as she was eating a rat. The
temperature at the time was 54 degrees, no wind and clearing skies. Interestingly within five minutes of eating the rat Mama
decided to not share it with Papa, she didn't finish the meal, she suddenly discarded the meal. This was the first time in
over 15 years observing them that I observed a meal being discarded well before completely consuming the meal. Did she
sense something was wrong with her catch? After discarding the meal she flew off to the East and Papa followed. Within
another five minutes she returned to the nest with a fresh meal, Papa landed next to her a few seconds later and she gave
the meal to Papa. Once Papa started eating Mama entered her nest and settled in. The nest was left unattended for about
ten minutes, when I left the area Papa was still eating within six feet of Mama and the nest. I will be archiving January and
February news as always it can be accessed via the news archive link. Weather data: Hi-54, Lo-39, mostly cloudy &
overcast.
March 12: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. However, we did spend the afternoon photographing and
observing two Snowy Owls on Long Island. I hope to post some images of this magnificent Owl soon along with images I
took of the Snowy Owl last Wednesday taken after the snow storm. I have archived January and February recent news, as
always it can be accessed via the news archive link. Weather data: Hi-56 (at 1am), Lo-33, Partly cloudy.
March 13: Papa was sitting in the nest on this very cool day very late this afternoon. Mama returned to the nest from the
Eastern section of their territory at 6:45pm. As she landed on the nest Mama and Papa made a very quick transition in the
nest bowl. Mama settled in the nest very carefully, you could see by her movements that she was manipulating her eggs
under her body as she got comfortable. Papa left the nest flying to the East landing on top of an apartment complex, he
watched Mama from this vantage point as she took over her duty on the nest bowl. Once Mama settled in Papa started to
preen and fluff himself, he was still on this building when I left the area for the evening. I have archived January and
February recent news, as always it can be accessed via the news archive link. Weather data: Hi-39, Lo-27, Partly cloudy.
March 14: Papa was sitting on top of a building to the Southeast of his nest, after a short time he flew off to the Eastern
section of his territory with a purpose. Mama was sitting in the nest and while I was observing them she didn't leave. I didn't
see any food deliveries or nest exchanges during the short time I had observing our hawk family. I have archived January
and February recent news, as always it can be accessed via the news archive link. Weather data: Hi-44, Lo-31, Partly
cloudy.
March 15: Today was a relatively quiet day while I was observing our hawk family. Mama was sitting on her nest and I
didn't see Papa this afternoon. A good sized Cooper's hawk was hunting in Mama and Papa's Eastern territory in the late
morning. Weather data: Hi-48, Lo-40, Overcast.
March 16: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. The Cooper's hawk was vocalizing and hunting once again
in the Eastern section of Mama and Papa's territory late this morning. Weather data: Hi-51, Lo-34, Overcast.
March 17: Papa was sitting on one of his favorite tall apartment complexes in the mid afternoon just South of his nest
keeping an eye on his territory. Mama was sitting on her nest during this time and also later in the afternoon Mama was still
taking care of nest duties. I didn't see Papa in the late afternoon. While I was observing Mama and waiting to see if Papa
would show up to relieve Mama a Kestrel or Merlin flew from East to West at a high rate of speed with a sparrow in its
talons. Weather data: Hi-49, Lo-35, Fair, few clouds.
March 18: I didn't see Papa this late afternoon, Mama was taking care of nest duties. It was otherwise a relatively quiet late
afternoon. Weather data: Hi-54, Lo-34, Partly cloudy.
March 19: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-51, Lo-41, Light rain & overcast.
March 20: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-42, Lo-34, AM light snow, mostly cloudy.
March 21: On a brief check Mama was sitting on the nest and Papa wasn't visible early this afternoon. Weather data:
Hi-41, Lo-29, Fair then mostly cloudy.
March 22: Early in the afternoon Papa was patrolling the Eastern section of his territory and Mama was taking care of
nesting. Later in the afternoon we didn't see Papa as Mama continued taking care of the nest. I wasn't able to observe if
Papa delivered any food in between the early afternoon and the late afternoon. Weather data: Hi-54, Lo-32, Fair then
mostly cloudy.
March 23: Another relatively quiet day, Mama taking care sitting in her nest starting her third week since she first
over-nighted and Papa keeping a low profile. The wind was strong and constant today, in the evening the wind chills were
predicted to be between 5 and 15 degrees overnight. Weather data: Hi-42, Lo-28, Fair, windy, wind chills 5-15 degrees
overnight.
March 24: Papa circled overhead a couple times checking out his family before disappearing from view. Mama continues
her nest duties. A Turkey Vulture flew low over Mama and Papa's Eastern territory as it disappeared from view off to the
East. Weather data: Hi-49, Lo-28, Clear.
March 25: Shortly after I arrived at the nest this afternoon Papa relieved Mama on the nest. Mama took a short flight and
landed on a nearby apartment complex before heading off to the West where she soared over her territory. She had a full
crop as she flew past me to enjoy her time away from the nest. Earlier in the day the third fledgling from last season was
enjoying the day soaring nearby last seasons nest. A good number of Crows were also in the area as well as two Ravens.
Weather data: Hi-48, Lo-31, Fair then mostly cloudy.
March 26: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-45, Lo-36, Overcast then light rain.
March 27: Shortly after I had arrived at the nest late this afternoon Mama flew in from the East with a pine branch in her
beak and relieved Papa from nest duties. Papa circled around near his nest for a while and then headed to the Southeast
near last seasons nest and eventually out of sight. In the late morning Mama was circling over the Eastern section of her
territory for a few moments, she then made a quick exit in the direction of her nest. Early in the afternoon two immature
Red-tailed Hawks were soaring in the Eastern section of Mama and Papa's territory. I wasn't able to tell if it was the third
fledgling due to the glare and lack of binoculars when they appeared. The two soared high and off to the Southwest and
out of sight. Weather data: Hi-61, Lo-42, Overcast then light rain.
March 28: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. However, Papa was in the central section of his territory
sitting on one of his favorite chimney's for about fifteen minutes on a tall apartment complex. Weather data: Hi-59, Lo-45,
Mostly cloudy with light rain and fog early in the AM.
March 29: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. In the late morning a large Cooper's hawk was in the central
section of Mama and Papa's territory. It had eaten recently as it had a very full crop. Weather data: Hi-54, Lo-47, Light
rain/fog/mist most of the day and a period (about 1 hour) of heavy rain in the evening with hail.
March 30: In the late morning one of our hawk parents was soaring over the central section of their territory, the sun
interfered with identifying which member. Papa was soaring very high over his nest early this afternoon. Later in the
afternoon Papa was sitting on top of one his favorite apartment buildings to the South of his nest, he left flying out to the
East. Mama was taking care of nest duties in the afternoon. Weather data: Hi-56, Lo-44, Partly cloudy, breezy.
March 31: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. I will be archiving the March news soon, it can always be
accessed via the News Archives contents. Weather data: Hi-58, Lo-41, Fair to partly cloudy.