Kay and Jay Update from Cheryl Cavert aka Catgirl of the Tulsa Forum

Photograph by Cheryl Cavert aka Catgirl of the Tulsa Hawk Forum

Earlier this evening, around 7PM, before going to the nest, Kay eats her dinner with gusto!

Tulsa hawkwatcher and photographer Cheryl Cavert sent in this note with her wonderful photographs of Kay and Jay--

Good evening Donegal,
Kay laid her first egg of the 2009 season at 9 pm this evening.

Photograph by Cheryl Cavert aka Catgirl of the Tulsa Hawk Forum

Sunday evening at sunset I noticed them involved in some action in a tree but it was too dark to get any clear photos. So I went looking again today and found them in the same area at 11 am. I've sent along a few photos from their interaction. First they were sitting quietly on the same branch.

Photograph by Cheryl Cavert aka Catgirl of the Tulsa Hawk Forum

Then Jay flew around and landed beside her before hopping on her back.

Photograph by Cheryl Cavert aka Catgirl of the Tulsa Hawk Forum
I always wondered what they did with their talons so they did not rip the female to shreds!!!!!!!!!


Photograph by Cheryl Cavert aka Catgirl of the Tulsa Hawk Forum
(Note Jay's talons appear to be curled under. He is more balancing on Kay rather than gripping her. D.B.)

It was a very long session as at first she did not seem to cooperate. There are more photos at my flickr site (www.flickr.com/photos/cheryls_camera) - about 1 per second!!

Later in the evening at 7 pm, I noticed Kay near the nest eating in a tree - I guess her last meal at leisure!!! (Top photo above)

Hopefully in the morning we will have more live video and another egg?

--Cheryl (aka catgirl)

Thank you Cheryl for all your work and sharing it with us! As to the next egg? It usually takes 24 plus hours for the next egg to be created and laid, so I'd think that on Tuesday or so a second egg might be making its appearance.

Then might she lay yet another?

It seems more common than we'd originally thought for a third egg to be laid. Once positions were found in which we could see into some of the NYC urban nests we realized that a third egg was more often laid than we saw three eyasses because sometimes there is egg attrition. One egg becomes cracked somehow and doesn't develop, or it looks okay but still doesn't hatch, or less commonly a hatch begins but does not complete successfully.

But whatever the case, it's time to celebrate!

HAWK SEASON IS WELL ON ITS WAY IN TULSA!!!

Donegal Browne