Cherish is my favorite word, and I cherish the ability of turning the routine into a beautiful moment.
Nature creates in me, a spiritual and meditative time to bring peace, harmony and balance, into an otherwise ordinary day~
Mary Howell Cromer







Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Hawk Nest in Final Week Before Chicks Arrive~



The hen is at the end of her full month of brooding her eggs and any day the first chick will hatch out!
 


Look how pretty the view is from this year's nest site~
 


I so enjoy this time of the season with the Red-shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove and Beyond~
 
 
 


It was not so easy, but I got a photograph of the back side of the nest~


OK, about the rabbit. 
If I see a freshly killed rabbit, squirrel, or snake, rather than having it go to waste, being continually run over by automobiles, which killed them to begin with, I will grab it up and deliver it near the nest site. 
This rabbit was a fresh kill and within 2 hours of delivering it to the nest site, it was gone.  DeAnn who lives across the lane from the nest, has a cat.  Her cat killed a Chipmunk, but does not eat them.  So...I also delivered the Chippy and it to was taken up very quickly.  On the good side...nothing is wasted and, the hawks may not have to make a killing on these days~
 


Several years ago, I learned the hard way, that without some kind of human intervention, many times the young chicks are taken by Raccoons.  I came up with an idea, that has really worked out very well.  I use aluminum pending and wrap the nest tree trunk, as well as any trees whose branches can touch the nest tree.  It is a most stressful time for me, but after so many years of doing this, I pretty much know the plan and the timing so that my actions have never caused the hawks to abandon the nest~


The hen flew in just as I arrived to check on the nest.  Soon she will spend more time off of the nest, as the chicks arrive and the weather warms and that should be a nice time to get some nice captures.  Here is hoping that this nest is successful, as both attempts last year failed for this pair~


We saw our first Gray Rat Snake of the season last week.  This is another one of the nice reasons for having hawks around for, they love these guys~
 
 
I am also linking with World Bird Wednesday, please visit other birding photographers and enthusiasts from around the world at:



http://www.pineriverreview.blogspot.com/


Three years ago this past Spring, I had been thinking about my passion for Red-Shouldered Hawks and wondered if anyone else felt the same way.  I simply typed in the words on "google.com"  Love of Red-Shouldered Hawks and one name came up.  Vickie Henderson.  Since then, we became friends and I admire her passion for many birds, her creative genius in being able to draw and use watercolur medium to show their beauty.  She is also a very creative writer, author and when she recently shared about her newest book. I had to have a copy.  It is a small  book, yet with wonderful watercolours and drawings and writings about her season with a pair of theses beautiful Raptors.  I appreciate Vickie very much, for without her encouragement, I would never have known, any of you and now that so many have become so special in my life, that would be a miserable thought, for you are all very special.  Congratulations Vickie, well done~  

http://vickiehenderson.blogspot.com/2012/04/red-shouldered-hawk-territory.html

23 comments:

  1. she's beautiful on the nest. and you are too kind to bring them roadkill and catkill. i'm glad they eat it and put it all to good use.

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  2. Terrific Post! I sure hope the nesting and hatching goes well! Ugh, I don't like snakes!

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  3. Another great series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  4. What about that, it is so intriguing that the Hawk is coming down to yours, maybe it is the that you giving lovely treats, like a rabbit, or chipmunks. Photo wise, nothing can beaqtg it.

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  5. Your dedication in documenting the the hawks and other efforts to their preservation is to be admired.
    Always wonderful bird shots but the reflection images are lovely as well!

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  6. A wonderful post Mary... It's great seeing all your lovely wildlife.

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  7. You are an angel on a mission! Blessings!

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  8. A great series of photos. It's a beautiful place.

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  9. Very interesting series of photos !!
    And the place of nest site is so beautiful.

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  10. What a great idea with the roadkill! I've never heard of that being done. The scenery is gorgeous! Great photos of the rat snake, too!

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  11. What a good idea to recycle road and cat kills like that Mary. As you say nothing then is wasted and the hawks get fresh food. Great series of pictures again.

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  12. Cool series on the Hawk and nest. Can't wait to see the hatchlings. The snake is creepy. Wonderful post, Mary.

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  13. Really nice idea about the roadside kill.You are so kind...the hawks are lucky you are there:)Lovely post and great captures...so green..just love the place.Have a great day!!

    Shantana

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  14. Great set of pictures - that snake looks interesting - we are just about out of snake season now.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  15. Hi again Mary. Thanks for your very kind comments re my photos on my blog post. I use a Pentax K5 and that morning was using my Sigma 150-500 lens. I did no post processing on those photos - just cropped and re-sized. If I am going to do more I use the GIMP and usually just adjust levels and brightness etc. I think I might do a post sometime in the next week or so about what I have learned about lighting and angles etc.

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  16. Your images are wonderful, Mary! It is so special that this pair nests near you so you can follow their progress. Thank you for your mention of our friendship, my book and the link. I also wanted to tell you that I think I've discovered why the bluebird pair selected a different nest box this season. I've had a red-shouldered hawk hanging out in my yard lately, which shouldn't be a surprise since we're over-run with squirrels. I've only seen him/her a couple of times but the yard birds alert me when he's around. Those alarm chirps are definite hawk announcements!

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  17. I totally appreciate your bringing fresh kill to the hawks. Nothing wasted, indeed.

    Looking forward to the chicks. :)

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  18. Terrific post Mary! I love that you don't let 'road kill' go to waste and use it to help out the Hawk during nesting season.

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  19. Your blog is such a joy.I love hawks also.We have a nest in the woods that looks similar to your hawk nest.Now I am going to check it more often as I believe whomever is building it is finally done.I wasn`t sure when chicks would hatch out,but we do have a pair of hawks here somewhere,I`m hoping they are closer than I think.Thank-you for the info.Now I`ll be dragging in dead animals as an offering to the hawks!phyllis

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  20. What a piicturesque place for the hawks to nest, and great that you are helping to ensure their nesting success. Good idea to recycle dead animals like that - I now wish I'd picked up the dead squirrel I saw on my way home last night!

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  21. Beautiful photographs of my favorite Buteo Mary. Ever since I was able to watch these gorgeous hawks raise their brood of three back in 2008 I have been their biggest fan. I have a pair nesting near my house but I haven't been able to find the nest, even with their calling contributing to my search.

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  22. Rapture! Your hawks are amazing!

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  23. Wonderful photos of the hawks and the nest. I am glad you bring them the road kill. I use to move roadkill off the roads in my neighborhood in Tucson so the vultures could east it in peace! Beside, I would rather give the carcass back to the desert that see it mangled as car after car ran it over. So unnatural! I am glad you found Vickie! She is truly amazing!

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