Typically with Red-tailed Hawks both sexes contribute to nest-building and in this case it was the female’s turn to carry a stick to the nest. However, this time it was a two-stage delivery.
- These photos were taken two years ago today in northern Utah.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This elevated rock face is perhaps 100 yards from the nest on a cliff out of frame to our right and the male (on the right) was perched here when his mate landed near him with nesting material. Apparently she needed a break. As she flew in and landed she had the stick in her talons but she soon transferred it to her beak before taking off again and delivering it to the nest.
But after she took flight again the delivery wasn’t immediate. There was a breeze that morning so there were updrafts coming off the rock face and she couldn’t resist playing in them for a few moments.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Given her flight posture here she looks like she might be about to land but the opposite was true. With very little effort in the updraft she had just lifted off and for a few seconds immediately after she kited in the rising breeze for a bit before eventually delivering the stick. She was only a few feet above her mate (barely out of frame at lower right) for long enough that I was able to get quite a few photos of her with her wings outstretched and her tail widely flared as she kited in the wind. She kept her legs in the down position for longer than I expected her to.
I had the distinct impression that she was hesitant to “get back to work” and was simply enjoying herself in the updraft.
Looks like fun to me.
Ron
All work and no play makes Mama a cranky girl! 😉 Fabulous shots!
We had to drive out to Corona today and caught a murder of crows playing in the updrafts by the freeway. (We luck out — really light traffic both ways — woo hoo!)
Thanks, Marty.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that final shot. And that she could make time for fun.
Thank you, EC.
When you think about it, kiting and soaring simply MUST be fun! Seriously, if I had (redtail) wings and tail, I’d be soaring right this second, leaving gravity to those stuck on the ground in the context of “sucks to be you!” I wouldn’t be able to resist! 😉
And just SIGH! What beauty and grace of being! But you knew I would say that. HEHEHE! We are so frickin’ lucky to have redtails here. I am so grateful to the Universe that I landed on their side of the planet!
And once again, thank you for being out there to bring these glorious images to us. You ROCK!
Wouldn’t it be fun to kite! Without even flapping our wings we could maneuver all over the place with only minor wing and tail adjustments. I’ll bet I could do that all day and never tire of it!
I know I could do it all day. I’ve imagined what that would feel like many times and yep, I could do that!
You would have exuberant company in the air Laura. Me, and probably a number of Ron’s other readers.
EC, I bet there would be a gang of us in the sky! So many times, I’ve imagined flying with Mariah and Jack. I’m so blessed that they let me share their lives.
EC, there are so many times I think how wonderful it would be if I could transport you here to experience the magic of redtails up close and personal. You’d go GA-GA!
I wish you could. How I wish you could.
Count me in! 🙂
I know I’d be doing that if I could.
Me too.
I think she just looked over and said, “Hey, there’s that guy Ron again, I better give him some kind of a show for his photos.” It is fun to watch raptors work on nest building. Great photos as always.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Everett, Usually they say “Let’s screw with Ron’s photos” and then they do exactly that! So this was a nice change.
What they can do with only beaks and butts is truly amazing!!!
True enough!
I love that birds can be joyous in flight ! It’s pretty obvious with ravens— so happy to see that a hawk focussed on family business will gift herself with a wild swing into the blue—she’ll
be tethered to duty soon enough .
Kris, Ravens are the perfect example of birds seeming to have fun in flight.
It does look like fun and certainly gave you the opportunity for a wonderful photo (many I’m guessing) I often wonder how hold in twig/other material affects their flight when it’s breezy? Beautiful bird!
Judy, to add to her difficulty this “stick” was branched and awkward and it even turned in her beak in flight. She seemed to manage it fine though.
What a delightful photo! She probably thought with all the sitting coming up, feeding, etc…a gal needs to have fun too!
Yup, she deserved the short break and a few moments of fun before it all started. Thanks, Kathy.
Ron I think you are correct. Maybe birds do enjoy the world as we do. Don’t know but do know your end photo is glorious. Shows all feather groups. Made my Wednesday AM great. Diana
I sure thought she was enjoying herself, Diana – don’t know how she couldn’t considering what she was doing!