Swainson’s Hawks – A Photo To Gladden The Heart

Almost the whole fam damily.

Yesterday morning in a remote area of northern Utah I saw more juvenile Red-tailed Hawks than I’d ever seen before in such a small area in such a short time. So when I spotted four hawks clustered together on top of a rusty old pipe I just assumed they were more red-tails. They weren’t close, they were mostly back-lit and I was more concerned about getting a few documentary shots before one or more of them took off than I was about ID.

 

1/640, f/10, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in

It wasn’t until I looked at my photos at home that I realized that they were most of a family of Swainson’s Hawks, an adult on the left and three youngsters. I’m pretty sure I saw the other parent in flight nearby.

I didn’t have enough depth of field to get them all sharp and I had a devil of a time timing a shot where I had light on the face of all four birds (the adult kept staring directly at the kids which didn’t help). A few seconds after this photo was taken the adult took off to join its presumed mate who was soaring nearby. That’s a mountain in the background, not sky.

I was simply delighted to see that the adults had successfully raised three youngsters past fledging. I’ve been visiting this area all summer and even though I’ve seen a fair number of Swainson’s Hawks around, I’ve seen little evidence of nesting – noticeably less than I usually do.

In about a month these youngsters, who are still dependent on their parents, will have to begin their extremely rigorous 6,000 mile journey to their wintering grounds in South America so they have a lot of maturing to do, quickly. I wish them heartfelt good luck.

But I had to share their success so far in the journey of life.

Ron

 

39 Comments

  1. What a fabulous photo! Thank you so much for sharing. So glad that three young fledged successfully and they all look healthy. It brought back very happy memories of when we were living in Edmonton, Alberta and I was studying the breeding ecology of Swainson’s for many years. Thank you!

  2. Once again, serendipity smiles upon the prepared photographer.

    A totally awesome (egad, I sound like a valley teen) photograph!

    The dog days of August and migration is beginning. Hard to believe.

  3. Ron, this is SO exciting! You just made my day. Heck, maybe the whole week!
    What a vignette!

  4. Super duper absolutely califragilistic. There’s nothing better than seeing a whole family like that. I’m so glad you got the conditions to get the shot.

  5. Oh my, I’m almost speechless — what an incredible sight! So happy you were able to document their family success. And now that I looked for Lyle’s fifth hawk, I can’t not see it every time I look at your image! 😉
    Anyway (I did say “almost” speechless), I wish them all fair winds and a safe migration — going and coming back!

    • “going and coming back”

      Chris, that’s something we should keep in mind – it’s a round trip! A 12,000 mile migration before they’re even a year old.

      And I’m glad you weren’t completely speechless…

  6. Haven’t heard, “The whole fam damily,” in a long time. Definitely brought a grin as I wait in the dentist office (just a cleaning). 😀

    Lovely to see the whole mishpucha. ❤️ There’s a new buteo in our neighborhood and I’m wondering if it might be a relative of your crew.

  7. Wow, amazing, Ron! I never see a Swainson’s Hawk without thinking of a scene in “The Big Year.” The guys were racing each other on a ski slope… the camera panned up into the trees where a raptor was sitting … a …. SWAINSON’S HAWK. That was one of those moments when all the birders in the audience tittered and mumbled. Thanks for the great pic!

  8. Wonderful! This is the same pipe I have a photo of a Swainson’s sitting on from the Sunday we ran into each other along the road. Mine is so back lit I haven’t played with the photo. I will have to look at it to see if it is a juvenile or adult. Did you see the golden eagles this time?

  9. Love Love Love 🙂

  10. Good thing I wasn’t in the truck with you when you saw them.

    • Oops. Hit “post comment” accidentally. Anyway, if I had been with you it would have been a mess inside your truck with my head exploding and all.
      Did you notice the bird in the mountains with the eye above the young one on the left and the beak pointing left? Just a bit of icing on the cake, perhaps. Not that it’s at all needed.

  11. Michael McNamara

    What a photo! Family portrait. A couple of them appear to have a foot up.

  12. it is indeed a deligthful family photo!

  13. Everett F Sanborn

    Ron that is really an outstanding find. In sixteen years here taking bird photos I have never seen a group of hawks sitting together anywhere. Even with Red-tails who are of course our most common, I have no photos ever of more than a pair. Envious too of the Swainsons. I have only personally seen one here and that was about four years ago. It was up on a wire and fortunately I took photos of it because it looked different to me. Then it flew off and disappeared. As I walked away luckily I was looking around toward the ground and there is was foraging thru the brush. Took a number of photos still not knowing what it was until I got home and looked it up on Sibley’s. Beautiful hawks.

  14. It warms my heart, too and brings tears to my eyes.
    Safe journey and long life Swainson family.
    Thank you and take care,
    Kaye

  15. VBG! 🙂 Neat to catch the whole “fam damily” sans papa together on the pipe. Mom looks a little “beat up” – can’t imagine why…. 😉 THAT is a LONG flight ahead – hope they make it.

  16. What a handsome family ! And it looks as if that parent is definitely doing
    their duty– “watching like a hawk”, that is ! I wish them a successful
    journey—it gives one hope, just to see them–all strong and healthy …….

    • Kris, I probably had my eye glued on the adult in my viefinder for a full minute, waiting for a head turn that would put light on its face. Didn’t happen.

  17. Wow. How wonderful to see – and successfully raising a family of that size is hard work. Kudos to the parents. I fully understand why your heart lifted.

  18. Arwen Professional Joy Seeker

    I wondering if they aren’t choosing to nest far away due to things like those idiots you have seen who get too close.

    But what good news both about the Swainsons’ and the Red Tai

  19. Ernest J Ellison

    A rare and amazing photo and it was great chatting with you along the way. All the best !! Jer

  20. Cindy Intravartolo

    I also wish them heartfelt good luck. Amazing shot!

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