JKNatureGallery.com
2009 Red-Tailed Hawk News
Archive May 1, 2009 - May 31, 2009
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May 2: Early in the morning one of our hawk parents was eating a meal on the 2007 nest, the Hawkcam revealed the
leftovers of a Pigeon on the empty nest. Later in the day the Pigeon leftover was removed. In the early afternoon Mama
was sitting at the corner of her nest keeping an eye on her immediate area, the eyasses appeared to be resting. Later in
the afternoon both Mama and Papa were sitting on the roof on either side of the building with their nest is located. Papa
eventually flew a bit to the East where he was ate the leftovers of a meal. Mama then returned to her nest to feed her family
we could only see one eyass being fed. This is the second day in a row that we have not seen both eyasses, hopefully the
sibling is okay and it's just a coincidence. Weather data: Hi-63, Lo-55, Light rain early, then mostly cloudy.
Please click on the following link to the Defenders of Wildlife Petition to help restore the Gray Wolf Federal Protection
Status More details on April 30th posting. This is one of the steps underway to help restore Federal protection status to
the Gray Wolf.
May 3: We didn't observe our hawk family to day. Weather data: Hi-57, Lo-52, Light rain, fog and mist.
May 4: We didn't observe our hawk family to day. Weather data: Hi-56, Lo-52, Light rain, fog and mist.
May 5: Mama was feeding her eyass early this afternoon, we didn't see Papa or the second eyass. Weather data: Hi-55,
Lo-52, Light rain, fog and mist.
May 6: Mama and Papa were bot sitting on different apartment complexes just East of their nest. Papa in a fast stoop
chased after a bunch of Pigeons with some spectacular high speed maneuvers diving and abruptly turning then landing in
a tall tree. After a very brief rest he repeated his aerial skills once again. It seemed that he was enjoying himself more than
really seriously hunting. In either case it was wonderful to observe and the only way to capture the moments would have
been on video as no still image could have done him justice. Papa returned to his apartment complex. Mama eventually
flew off probably for a meal. The nest appeared empty the entire time I observed it, once I left the immediate area the
eyass stood up tall in his nest. It was good to see the eyass after all the days of rain. I still haven't see its sibling. Weather
data: Hi-61, Lo-50, Heavy rain early (after midnight) then mostly cloudy with rain again late in the evening 11pm.
May 7: Mama once again was watching her nest from a position just to the East on an apartment complex roof. The eyass
was resting in the nest as I couldn't see it from the ground. Today I was able to visit the nest and get some great images of
the eyass and Mama. Unfortunately, the visit was bitter sweet, my concerns about the second eyass were confirmed as
there was only one eyass in the nest. There were no signs of the sibling, we don't know what happened to it and the best
time line we can estimate for its demise is between April 22nd and April 30th that something must have happened. On the
positive side the eyass in the nest is now four weeks old and big, its starting to show some tail and wing feathers. I have
posted new images of Mama and Papa's eyass in the Nest Photos 2009 Gallery. Weather data: Hi-67, Lo-51, Light rain
early then mostly cloudy with a late afternoon thunderstorm then overcast.
Please click on the following link to the Defenders of Wildlife Petition to help restore the Gray Wolf Federal Protection
Status More details on April 30th posting. This is one of the steps underway to help restore Federal protection status to
the Gray Wolf.
May 8: Late this afternoon Mama was sitting on the rooftop fence of an apartment complex with a great view of her nest
just off to the South. The eyass was not very active, it was sitting up and looking back at Mama. We didn't see Papa today.
Weather data: Hi-69, Lo-55, Mostly cloudy.
May 9: Mama was preening on an apartment rooftop antenna Northeast of her nest. Although her proximity to the nest
was close from this vantage point she couldn't see her nest. The eyass was active in the nest and looking around in the
mid afternoon. Later in the afternoon Papa soared overhead checking things out before flying off and out of sight. Weather
data: Hi-73, Lo-57, Heavy rain early the overcast.
May 10: We weren't able to observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-72, Lo-55, Mostly cloudy.
May 11: Mama was back on her regular apartment rooftop fence keeping an eye on her nest. Papa was hunting from the
rooftop on the West most apartment complex. Eventually he flew closer to Mama landing in a tall tree located across the
street from Mama. Their eyass was sleeping during the time I observed their activities. Weather data: Hi-67, Lo-51, Mostly
cloudy.
May 12: Late this afternoon Mama was sitting on a very tall apartment complex to the South of the nest and out of visual
contact with her nest. The eyass was active moving about in the nest. We didn't see Papa today. Weather data: Hi-57,
Lo-52, Few clouds.
May 13: I visited the nest this morning and took more images of the eyass with Mama. The eyass is 5 weeks old now and
getting some significant feather growth. Its tail feathers are now very noticeable. Early this afternoon Papa was sitting on
the nest briefly, when he left the nest he flew directly overhead and to the West. Later in the afternoon I spent some time at
the nest of Pale Male and Lola. During the hour and a half that I observed the nest Lola was sitting in the nest and a
number of times walked around the nest bowl. Once it appeared she was going to take flight only to sit back down again.
Otherwise there was not much activity at the nest. Weather data: Hi-63, Lo-50, Fair.
May 14: A very brief visit to the nest early this afternoon and Papa was sitting on the nest with his little one. Weather data:
Hi-64, Lo-55, Overcast then light rain late.
May 15: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-71, Lo-56, Partly cloudy.
May 16: Sorry for the delayed observation postings and images since May 8th.I will be adding new images of Mama with
her now five week old eyass in the nest by Sunday evening, please check back soon. We didn't observe our hawk family
today. Weather data: Hi-66, Lo-56, Overcast with haze then fog/mist.
If you haven't signed the petition to protect the Gray Wolf of the Northern Rockies please click on the following link to the
Defenders of Wildlife Petition to help restore the Gray Wolf Federal Protection Status More details on April 30th posting, to
those of you that have signed the petition thank you. This is one of the steps underway to help restore Federal protection
status to the Gray Wolf.
May 17: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-65, Lo-54, Light rain early then overcast.
May 18: Mama was near the nest keeping an eye on her youngster. We didn't see Papa today. Weather data: Hi-60,
Lo-50, Mostly cloudy.
May 19: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-65, Lo-44, Few clouds.
May 20: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-, Lo-, Partly Cloudy.
May 21: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-72, Lo-53, Few clouds.
May 22: Mama spent the late morning and early afternoon in the nest with her youngster. There didn't appear to be any
feeding during this time, Mama seemed to be providing shade to the eyass from the direct sun. Weather data: Hi-72,
Lo-53, Few clouds.
May 23: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-73, Lo-60, Mostly cloudy.
May 24: We didn't observe our hawk family today. Weather data: Hi-76, Lo-57, Mostly cloudy, then light rain.
May 25: Mama was in the nest with her youngster and provided a meal. We didn't see Papa today. Weather data: Hi-80,
Lo-63, Mostly cloudy.
May 26: On a brief visit to the nest the eyass was alone and alertly looking around sitting on the very edge of the nest. We
didn't see the parents nearby. Weather data: Hi-66, Lo-54, Mostly cloudy, light rain late.
May 27: Today both parents were watching their youngster from either side of the building roof. The eyass was sitting up
watching the parents. Later in the afternoon the eyass was sleeping in the nest and Mama was sitting on a nearby lamp
post watching over the eyass, Papa was not around at this time. Weather data: Hi-68, Lo-52, Light drizzle, then fog, mist
becoming overcast.
May 28: We didn't observe our hawk family today. I'm going to stop posting weather data now that the season has become
mild and the nesting season is well underway. I will post weather information for extreme weather events that may occur.
May 29: On a visit to the nest the eyass was very active today. It was stretching its wings, exploring its nest and requesting
a meal from its parents. Mama was observing her youngster from an apartment building roof to the East of the nest. Papa
was also in the area flying around the general region of the nest and occasionally flying over the nest. His wings are
missing some feathers, he may have lost them while hunting. Mama eventually joined him in flight and they soared together
for about a half an hour. Mama landed nearby on the edge of the building roof before flying off once again. I'll be posting
new images soon.
May 31: A quiet day at the nest today, the eyass was alone sitting up in the nest. Mama watched from the apartment
building roof to the East of the nest. We didn't see Papa today.
May 30: We didn't observe our hawk family today.