Fledgling Soaring and screams like an adult Cool July 15, 2009

Soaring and screaming like the adults

Mmmmmmmm any mice in here

What a beautiful bird


Today I stopped in for a very short time. Saw all 3 fledgling as they flew all over the place. They were definitely hunting (poorly) but trying to catch squirrels. At one point a gull went by with food in his mouth and the 2 oldest fledgling took off and chased him for the food. Man did the gull take off into the woods fast. Only one fledgling came back and no sign of the gull (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm). The other fledgling was flying around and soaring then all of a sudden I heard that red-tail call I love (if you have never heard it go on the right side of my blog and double click COOL THINGS ABOUT THE RED TAIL HAWK and listen to the call). It was so amazing and cool at the same time. The babies are growing up.

photos to be posted later

Fledgling Talon Touching in the sky July 15, 2009

Adult with full crop and bringing food into the nest

Fledgling playing on the ground

When I arrived yesterday I had just missed the excitement. Daniel told me that two the fledgling were playing in the air and grabbing each others talons. I have seen this with Peregrine Falcons but not with Red-Tail Hawks. Daniel was really excited about it and I wished I had seen it. What I saw was 3 fledgling screaming for food. lol. Two were in the nest and one in the tree below. I looked for the female and saw both adults on the crane in the construction site - then takeoff here they come both with food in their talons. The male landed in the nest first and then left - then came the female. The one female fledgling took over the food, mantled it and the other 2 watched. It looked like a pigeon so hopefully all 3 will eat. Wait the adults come in with more food and drop it on the ground - looks like two rats. Guess who leaves her food and go to grab both of them and takes them to the nest - Yup the female fledgling and again the other 2 are watching. (Pretty soon the one female will be too big to fly lol) I had to meet someone and when I returned 45 min later all 3 were quiet so I hope that means they all ate something.
A hawk friend told me - if they are not getting enough food they would not be able to fly and all 3 are flying really well.