New Red-shouldered Hawk Nest!

[chathamgardener]

I watched one of my red-shouldered hawks pounce on something on the floodplain -- an everyday occurrence. However, instead of flying to a tree to devour its catch, it flew up to a tree, paused to get a better grip, flew to another tree a few yards away, paused, and repeated this pattern as it slowly made a half-circle back to -- a new nest! Instead of the old pine, this year they've selected the crotch of a sturdy maple on the other side of the creek. The bird disappeared over the lip of the nest for about 2 minutes, then flew back out to resume hunting. I'm assuming it was feeding its mate, who is incubating newly laid eggs.

I did a little research online, and in Florida, these birds tend to nest early in the season if the winter has been rainy. Early nesting tends to produce more healthy new hawks. The thinking is that good rains mean good eating for the frog-crayfish-snake-rodent-loving red-shouldered hawks. I suspect the pattern holds true here too. And it's certainly been a wet winter. 

I just hope the strong winds promised for tonight and tomorrow don't knock the nest out of its tree.

[belle]

I doubt it will, unless the tree goes down, and maples are sturdy. if it does, she can lay more. the hawks have been busy at my place, too.

[Chill]

Two hawks have recently taken interest in a small pond that's about 50ft from our front door.  They like to hang out/perch in a small maple tree that overlooks the water.  The amazing thing is that both Hawks show no fear of me or my wife as both of us have gotten to within 10ft of them- we've taken close up photos and vids.  Pretty amazing.  Beautiful creatures. 

[aroundtown]

I know one thing.  Black crows simply seem to hate hawks, and will not leave one alone while flying. That is the only time I feel sorry for a hawk.

[belle]

Two hawks have recently taken interest in a small pond that's about 50ft from our front door.  They like to hang out/perch in a small maple tree that overlooks the water.  The amazing thing is that both Hawks show no fear of me or my wife as both of us have gotten to within 10ft of them- we've taken close up photos and vids.  Pretty amazing.  Beautiful creatures. 

have you ever had them challenge you for something, like an animal they want? like a cat, or a rabbit you might not even see?

it is the most amazing energy, they circle you, and fix you with those cold, cruel eyes.

hang out, they are wonderful neighbors. not friendly, but weird.

[belle]

I know one thing.  Black crows simply seem to hate hawks, and will not leave one alone while flying. That is the only time I feel sorry for a hawk.

usually, the hawks are checking out the crow's nest, which would have eggs/chicks about now. small wonder.

a smaller bird can really hurt a raptor by breaking a wing bone. that is what they are trying to do.

[chathamgardener]

An update on my hawk family. We can see the nest through our scope in the living room, so I've been spying on them regularly. Two babies hatched two weeks ago today. Both parents sat on the rim of the nest and oversaw the hatching. It was a week before I began to see two white-feathered heads peeking over the top of the nest. Usually, they are most visible when a parent returns to the nest with a meal. About four days ago, they switched from "formula" (parent-regurgitated) to solid food.

At first, the parents would rip off pieces of dinner and drop them into waiting mouths. Now the babies charge the dropped dinner as soon as it arrives. The babies usually disappear deeper into the nest for a while after a meal. I assume they're enjoying after-dinner naps. Then they start getting wiggly, and often stretch out their growing wings as they bounce around.

I've seen the mother "remodel" the nest a couple of times. I think the constant landing by parents and the wiggling of growing babies has caused the nest to flatten out a bit, so mom rebuilds the rims. The first time, she used red cedar branches. Today she used fresh small twigs from a nearby willow oak.

According to my books, the babies will be on the nest about two more weeks. They are starting to grow in some darker, adult feathers, so I'm thinking they're right on schedule.

[Patty52]

What a wonderful report, chathamgardener. Thank-you so much for sharing on this glorious spring day. 

[chathamgardener]

Patty, I'm glad you like the updates. 

And here's the BIG NEWS OF THE DAY: There are THREE, count 'em, 3 hawk chicks in the nest. They have grown large enough that they are really filling the nest. And now when they jostle for the meals mom and dad bring them (as often as they can catch something, I think), it's easy to see THREE white heads vying for food. Darker feathers are definitely starting to grow in beneath the white ones. Beaks become more prominent daily. And I saw some serious-looking talons on one today as its sibling tipped it over in a rush for food. This too-hot weather is hard on the chicks. They are all panting, and mom is doing her best to shade them with her wings when the sun shines directly on the nest (which, fortunately, isn't long).

[FLTransplant]

How smart are the animals!  Amazing!  Thanks for the report.  In FL I'd be out riding my horse & see the hawks land on fence posts.  Directly thereafter a baby or 2 would land nearby on a rail or post.  Mama was teaching them to hunt.  She'd fly out and swoop down and get a field mouse (usually when I saw this it was field mice she was getting) & the babies would follow.  If I were lucky I'd get to see this several times and notice the babies getting closer & closer to getting their own prey. 

[chathamgardener]

A final update on the red-shouldered hawk brood. All four hawklings have fledged. Two moved out first, then the other two followed about a week later. For the first week after they left, the parents continued to bring food to the nest and all converged there to dine. The young ones also continued to sleep there at night. Now, I see single young ones there several times a day. They bring their food to the nest and eat it there. Due to limited visibility (sycamore leaves are BIG), I can't determine whether this is the same bird returning to the nest, or if they are taking turns.

When it isn't raining, I see the hawks soaring high above the yard, a parent calling to one or two young ones, as if providing instructions for fine-tuning their flying habits.

I'm hoping they'll all stay close by and devour the abundant rodents that live in my yard and along the creek. My books say they will eat squirrels. Since I seem to have a bumper crop of those critters too, I wouldn't mind feeding a few to hungry hawks.

All in all, I prounounce this nesting season a success for the hawk parents. 

[Patty52]

Congrats to the parents and good luck to the fledglings. I think that fledging FOUR babies is pretty amazing. And thank-you again, chathamgardener, for sharing these birds with us this spring. 

And if they run out of squirrels, send them my way. It is squirrel-a-pa-looza in my yard and I would love to thin out the herd!

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