For the past few years now we’ve had a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks that have nested nearby and last year they appeared to have one chick that prematurely fledged from its nest probably due to black flies. It couldn’t fly and occasionally would hear it calling from the woods along our driveway. I’m not sure if it survived or not.
Fast forward to this year and our local pair of hawks were once again nesting and I hadn’t realized that their chick was ready-to-fledge until today. (I do my best to not disturb nesting birds.)
I had just returned from monitoring our neighborhood Bald Eagle nest when I noticed a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks soaring overhead at approximately 500′. They were rather high in altitude. One hawk appeared to be shaped differently and I wondered if it was carrying something. I thought at first it might be carrying a bird. I took a few shots with my camera knowing the shot wouldn’t be that clear, but maybe clear enough that I could discern what it was carrying.
It was hard to tell, but it appeared to be a squirrel. I thought it was a bit strange that it would be flying so high with its prey. Usually a hawk with catch its prey and immediately head for a perch to consume its meal.
I watched for a few minutes as it continued to circle high above. Its mate was also flying at about the same altitude. Then it abruptly headed for the side of our bluff and flew out of sight. I thought that maybe it was bringing in its catch to the nest.
Then all of a sudden it re-appeared now only at about 100′ with another hawk chasing it. I quickly realized it was a juvenile in hot pursuit! It was amazing to see all this unfolding right before my eyes.
Having the camera in-hand, I quickly snapped off about a hundred shots before mom, dad and chick flew off to our neighbor’s farm and out of sight.
It was great to see that this year’s chick made it to flight stage. Was this the chick’s first flight? Hard to say but the timing would be about right. Mom could have been attempting to coax the chick to leave the nest for the first time by flying by with its food. I will never know for sure but it was quite the scene to witness this event.
⏤Alan Stankevitz