Ten days ago I reported on the progress of the three Red-tailed Hawk nestlings I’ve been following out in the west desert. At that time several of my readers requested that I keep folks up to date on these birds as they approach fledging. This post is my attempt to do so.
As a reminder of their stage of development, this photo was taken eleven days ago on June 13.
Here they are yesterday morning, ten days later and as you can see they’ve changed quite a bit. Even though we arrived at the nest site soon after dawn one of the adult birds had already delivered a rabbit to the nest. The young birds were just beginning to pick at the rabbit when we arrived. I was happy to see all three youngsters still in the nest and apparently thriving – one of them is hard to see behind the bird on the left.
These birds always seem to take turns at the meal as I’ve yet to see more than one of them feeding at the same time – perhaps it’s a “pecking order” thing. There’s no squabbling – they wait patiently until the sibling in front of them is done. This one tugged a little too hard at the rabbits foot…
and very nearly fell to the ground when it lost its balance. It’s a long ways down!
All the while one of the adults was standing guard about 150 yards away.
We never get close to the nest so this post is only meant to document the status of these hawks. Yesterday we only saw one of the adult birds but I assume (hope) the other one was simply out hunting.
Ron
Hello Ron, I had not posted a message for awhile but I truly enjoy all of your pictures. These red-tail chicks are just superb! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Ron!
Here I have been missing seeing all your Photo’s I love them and now look at all of them! Keep up the Great work!
Hi Sybill. And Welcome. It’ll be nice to have you around!
thank you! I love to see the progress of the young and the efforts of the parents. It seems to be a long time,incubating, then staying in the nest, but a lot of growing and learning happens as the pictures show.
Great photos!
OK, Jose! You can have your fresh, hair on, rabbit for breakfast. I’ll take yogurt, thanks. Wonderful to see THREE! Really looking like hawks now…fluffy britches gone, sleek pantaloons instead. Glad the parents (iI hope it’s plural) found such a nice big meal for them to share…turn taking interesting behavior…
This would be a great series to show if you ever come to the store! (If I ever find the right location and get the store open!)
Thanks for these great shots.
Kelli
How wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Charlotte
Ron, these are wonderful pictures and how lucky you are to be able to follow the successful breeding of a pair of Red Tails. Like you, I hope the other adult is out hunting. These babies develop amazingly fast and soon will look almost bigger than the parents. Next time you come you might see the parent out teaching them to hunt. Nature is truly wonderful … people should observe and learn from it. Thank you for this post …
Andrea @ From The sol
What a way to start a day. A fresh rabbit for breakfast. Those parents certainly know the job. I hope the missing one is OK.
Thank you for keeping me posted.
Thank you for these photos of the fledglings. Will you explain what is on view in the first one? My eyes don’t get what they are seeing. What is that ‘mass’ above the outstretched wing of the fledgling on the right?
Janet, If I’m right about what you’re referring to, that’s just a clump of leaves and part of the branch going up behind the bird.
Thank you for the update. It is really nice to see these babies thriving. And I, too, hope the other adult is okay.
I hope so too, Susan. Thanks.
They grow up so fast. Thanks for showing the changes, Ron.
You’re very welcome, Diana.