May 6, 2013

5/4, Likely Washington Heights Hatch

Late Saturday afternoon, I again headed uptown to check on the Highbridge Park and Washington Heights nests. Both were in the hatching time frame.

At Highbridge, I found Martha sitting calmly in her nest.

Martha

Although she got up twice during the next 45 minutes, her effort was limited to egg rotation and a quick preen. Well, given the uncertainties on when the Highbridge hawks switched from their first nest this season to this smaller nest, hatch could happen anytime over the next two weeks.

At the Washington Heights fire escape nest, however, signs seemed to indicate that a hatch had recently happened. I found the female sitting on the side of the nest, alternating between looking around at the nest interior and checking out the activity on the street.

Female Washington Heights Red-Tail

Female Washington Heights Red-Tail

This went on for a good 20 minutes or so, with the photographer getting his share of attention.

May 4

Female Washington Heights Red-Tail

Eventually the female settled down in the nest, but about ten minutes later, the male arrived with a tidbit of food The female got up and it looked more like she was feeding someone very small in the nest rather than eating the morsel herself.

Washington Heights Red-Tail Hawks

The male watched for a bit, then shifted position.

Washington Heights Red-Tail Hawks

Ooops, almost stumbled.

Another minute later, he took off, dropping through the hole in the fire escape and out over the street.

Male Washington Heights Red-Tail

He alit in a tree almost over head, where he cleaned his beak and then perched for 7 or 8 minutes.

Male Washington Heights Red-Tail

While he was still there the female finished what looked like feeding activity in the nest and settled back down.

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