Red-Tail Alert April 8, 2009

A cold bitter windy morning with the female red-tailed hawk flat on the nest this morning. By the afternoon the sky was blue, sun was shinning (still cold) but activity had started on the nest again. Went out for lunch and could hear the red- tails talking on the nest. Both male and female were up there. The male left to go to the woods and continue to bring fresh branches to the nest. As I approached my car he circled the parking lot very low with a branch in his talons. Amazing. The male went back to the nest and circled again. What a show. This went on a couple of times. My friend Miyuki was amazed at how large he was. Late afternoon I looked out to see the female on the nest only her head up and looking around but in the air 2 red-tail hawks were flying by. All of a sudden out of the woods the male red-tailed hawk chased after them. He circled them and chased them out of his territory. They did a bit of a dance but eventually they left. I did not see the male come back - I assume he was escorting them to the border.
Note from Colin: When ever intruders fly over below the 'safety zone', "resident" birds, Redtails and other raptors, will always escort intruders our of their territory.
On another note: Arrived home to have the fox sitting in my yard again.

Very Cold, Snowy and Windy April 7, 2009

Today it was a cold, winters day for the red-tail hawks. When driving to work this morning I saw the male red-tailed hawk flying in the woods on the south west corner. He landed on a tree and was sitting on a branch. Looked like he was hunting. (this is in the cooper's hawk area)
The female was laying very low on the nest. When I was watching the nest with the binoculars she stood up stretched out her wings and then she turned around then lay back down facing the 5th floor window. Her head was up and looking around for a short time. Very soon she lay flat down again out of the wind and snow.

Snow Rain Mom Tight on the Nest April 6, 2009

Nasty day outside. It is snowing and raining with heavy winds. Every time I looked at the nest the female red-tailed hawk is flat on the eggs. Not much movement at all. Saw the male red-tailed hawk fly by once late in the day.

Still Nest Building Today April 5, 2009

I stopped in today at the nest since we had a beautiful blue sky, sunny and warm. Pickup up a coffee and parked my car to wait. Did not have long to wait.
Off the construction site feet first over my head comes Sky Diver (my new nickname for the one red-tailed hawk) flying straight into the nest. The second red-tailed hawk was on the nest. Only a minute later he takes off into the woods and lands on a tree - I can see his wings flapping and he flies right back to the nest with a large stick. So they are continuing to enlarge the nest. Back and forth he goes. I decided to only stay for short time so not to disturb them. Took a few shots and then left.

Rainy Day - April 3, 2009

Rained hard all day - when I looked at the nest the female red-tailed hawk was hunkered down on the eggs. Did not see the second hawk at all.

April 2, 2009 Interaction on the Nest

Photos taken from the parking lot.


First thing this morning noticed the male and female on the nest. The male brought in a stick for the nest. The female then took off for a short flight and the male took over the nest. It is amazing how they share the nest duties.
Report from Jack in the afternoon:
You wanted excitement, well here you go. At around 3:30, Girish (the young scruffy man you met earlier today)was looking at the nest when he saw one of the hawks return. When he looked again with the binoculars, it had what appeared to be a squirrel in its mouth. When I got out there for a look the female hawk was digging at something she held in her talons with her beak.

Stayed Late at Work and What a Treat April 1, 2009

Had a late day at work and decided to check out the red tails downstairs by the nest. Saw the red-tail hawk fly by. Sat on the planter and figured ok I will wait a few minutes and see what happens. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a hawk land on the construction site beside my building. Waited again. Then to my dismay I saw a piece of construction paper flying down towards the nest (or so I thought) and I decide to take a shot of it only to discover it is the red-tailed hawk flying down fast. WOW. It lands on the tree beside the nest and perches there for a couple of minutes then jumps over to the nest and lays back down. OK it seems like it was an hour but it was a matter of minutes. So exciting. I have some photos I will post.
It rained all day and just at the end of work the sun comes out and a beautiful blue sky.
To make my day even better I come home and there is a fox on my front yard. Great day.