Red-tailed Hawk updates

Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea)

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(Photo credit - Rob J)

My Brooklyn hawk watch

(Photo credit - Rob J)

I spent 90 minutes monitoring the Ravine Red-tailed Hawk nest. While there were no signs that hatchlings have emerged both the male and female hung around the nest. For about one hour one or the hawks stood sentry at the edge of the nest. Periodically he would peer down into the bottom of the large, stick structure. The second hawk arrived at around 2:30pm and they both examined the inside of the nest. One of the hawks then settled down on the nest while the other remained at its edge.

Ravine Red-tailed nest



(Photo credit - Rob J)

I haven’t familiarized myself well enough with this pair to come up with names. I’m still not sure who is male and who is female. Based on the date, I presume that I’ll be seeing signs of chicks any day.

Here's an update from Fordham University's hawks:

From: Christopher Lyons
Date: 4/26/06 9:22 AM

Around 8:10am yesterday morning (4/25), not long before Prof. Fleischer took these pictures, I saw Hawkeye and Rose standing by the nest, and looking down into it with what seemed to be great interest. Then Rose flew off, and Hawkeye settled down on the nest, disappearing from view. He seemed no higher on the nest than usual.

This type of behavior can be misleading, but it's consistent with what I saw last year, well before I spotted eyasses on the old nest. It's possible the eggs have started to show signs of life, and the adults were reacting to this. The timing is just about exactly right--exactly one month since I reported that Rose was incubating consistently. In a few days, there could be hatchlings on the nest, instead of eggs, and the parents will be sitting higher up. That's what I hope, anyway. I won't be seeing Hawkeye and Rose again until 5/3, and hopefully the situation will be less ambiguous by then.

Fordham Red-tailed nest



(Photo credit - Richard Fleisher)

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Prospect Park, 4/28/2006
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Red-tailed Hawk (2, Ravine nest.)
Belted Kingfisher (Ravine.)
Hairy Woodpecker (Ravine.)
Northern Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo (Ravine.)
Red-eyed Vireo (Ravine.)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Ravine.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Several, Ravine.)
Hermit Thrush (Ravine.)
Wood Thrush (Ravine.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Common, Ravine.)
Palm Warbler (Ravine.)
Black-and-white Warbler (3 or 4, Ravine.)
American Redstart (Ravine.)
Northern Waterthrush (Ravine.)
Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole (Oak tree at entrance to Ravine.)
Baltimore Oriole (Lower pool.)
House Finch (Ravine.)

Other common species seen (or heard):
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Ravine.), Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow