Red-tailed Hawks, Bluebirds, and a Northern Flicker, plus Mama and Papa Have a Hatch

See the Red-tailed Hawk? That white breast does stand out. Likely the hawk is one of the Steams.

This tree is across the street from Threshermen's Park.

We stare at each other.

And we stare some more. She's waiting for me to look away before she'll fly out. I'm stopped in the road and her chance comes when I see a car bearing down on me from behind and have to look away to make a quick car adjustment to the verge before I get smacked.

When I catch sight of her again she's swooped down and is flapping for the next area of trees and brush beside the field.

She curves over and I know she's heading for the cover to the right.

Still flapping.

Then her wings go into a glide position. She glides deftly behind the brush and magically she's gone.

Finally the first day since the last storm when there is no haze or rain and I have enough light to get a definitive photo of the Ms nest from last season. It appears derelict.

Compare it with a photograph taken last May in the full swing of a hatch. The Ms have moved and we don't know to where. Yet. They have been absent from hunting the Oak Tree's field and the power poles by the tracks. Several times previously I'd caught them heading for Mud Lake or the ravine in the subdivision. If all else fails by the time I get back from NYC there may be begging going on that might just give them away, unless they are so far onto private property that we aren't able to hear them.

The Bluebirds have returned again.

And my surprise of the day--a female Northern Flicker. The first I'd seen here in several years. They used to be far more common but the Starlings have co-opted their nesting cavities so have become rarer.

She would pause, stock still whether sun-bathing or waiting for the insects to settle I don't know.

Then her head would go down and go after insects--the greater part of which would be beetles and ants--Flicker favorites. I wonder if they eat Japanese Beetles if so we could certainly use thousands more of her kind and they all would have plenty to eat.

She hears the camera and gives me a look but doesn't flush off.

But rather goes back to her job and her dinner.

Another look...

And more foraging. She stayed all day perhaps she'll remain this year and find a mate. Ten years ago there were always Flickers for the summer.

A fascinating find from Robin of Illinois--

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An acrobatic display of passion proved too much for a pair of eagles engaged in a mating dance over Alaska's Prince William Sound.
The female bird is recovering from an injured wing and other injuries sustained when the couple slammed beak-first into a hard snowbank in what her rescuers believe was an aerial courting ritual gone awry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/12/alaska-eagle-survives-dea_n_533637.html


BIG NEWS ABOUT BRIARWOOD’S MAMA AND PAPA FROM JEFF KOLLBRUNNER OF www.jknaturegallery.com/

All,

I've been able to confirm my thoughts of this past Saturday that our Briarwood hawk pair Mama and Papa had a hatch. I was able to confirm today that there are two healthy youngsters in the nest. I will be posting images Tuesday of the little ones that are now approximately 3-4 days old, most likely they hatched between 4/8 and 4/9. As far as I know, it appears once again this year that Mama and Papa may have the first hatch of the known Red-tailed Hawk nests in NYC.

Can't wait to hear about good news to be reported from the rest of our Red-tailed hawk nest watchers from around the city.

Best to all,

Jeff


GOOD BIRD NEWS FROM THE NYTIMES FROM NEW YORK CITY’S BILL WALTERS

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/science/13obbird.html?emc=eta1


And a little something I ran across also from the NYTimes,
THE POWER OF MUSHROOMS-Psilocybin the depression fighter?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/science/12psychedelics.html?src=me&ref=generaL

Donegal Browne

Red-tailed Hawks vs Turkey Vultures and Mr. Robin has Twig Envy

I was foraging twigs for "my nest" when I started hearing a Red-tail screaming--repeatedly. I looked and looked and all I could see was a Turkey Vulture making lazy circles above a tall tree.


And then out of the east came a Red-tailed Hawk with a mission.

This is one of the Steams who's territory includes Thresherman's Park.

I love this moment. Previously Steam had been keeping a tight visual bead on the vulture, but it appears that he is looking at the ground as well. A way to help maintain geographical bearings?

Then back to Vulture management business.

He's quite high. Part of the herding of other birds out of the territory, when alone, is to herd from above. Though one would have thought from all the screaming that there might have been contact but so far none.

Angling down slightly.

Finding a current...

and riding it.

But by the time he gets to where the vulture was circling, V has moved off.

Further...

and toward the west treeline.

Flapping. Wait, he crosses past the treeline and disappears. ???

Vulture is heading west.

Circling.

Circling.

Circling.

Circling.

Steam seems to have gone for reinforcements as Mrs. Steam is now also on the job.

Vulture decides to fly southeast.

(That white patch is interesting as Black Vultures have a pale patch at the tip of each wing. but it's the wrong shape so perhaps glare?)

And THERE is suddenly another vulture. Let me say, I did my best but I just couldn't keep total track of what all four birds were doing at any given time. Like where did the second vulture come from. V reinforcements?

One vulture heads further east. Tailed by one Red-tail. Maybe Steam saw the other vulture coming and that is why he headed off for the Mrs abruptly?

Now it's two vultures to one Red-tail.

Having chased one vulture to the east, I think, an RTH reappears and goes after the next one.

Some screaming ensues. Hawk isn't amused at all by these guys and wants them GONE!

And then they are gone into the trees and POOF! Everybody has disappeared.

(Yes, this Robin looks like a male Robin in the photo and he looked like a male Robin when I looked at him, having them match that way is rather reassuring after the Robin with the Twig issue.)

After having gotten the previous twigs mentioned, I came home to unload them, as I was unloading the twigs I note that a Robin is just standing there watching me. We all know that Robins keep themselves pretty busy this time of year, and don't normally just stare at you.

Still there, I continue putting twigs into the wheelbarrow. Then it comes to me. He's window shopping--looking at my twig inventory.

And likely an unscrupulous Robin thinking of nipping some of my twigs. Okay, okay, I know.

I have hands with opposable thumbs. I can cart my twigs around in a truck and a wheelbarrow and what does he have? Well, wings for one thing but... it's okay, I'll share.

I load up the wheelbarrow and trundle off to the back yard.

Guess who has moved to a better twig debris viewing area? Well actually being different sizes, I admit, for the most part he and I are usually interested in different sized twigs.

I fill up my last load and head again to the back yard.

Still there. Poor guy, feel bad for him so I go in the house. Unfortunately I can't see what he's doing from any of the windows and I don't want to disturb him. I made him wait long enough.

Then later, I look out the back door and who should I see in the feeding area? Mr. Robin again. And it's weird because in all this time I've never had a Robin on the concrete like this. There aren't any worms there after all. But Robin is pecking at something. He's pecking at bread! Robins don't eat bread. They eat worms, bugs, cherries, and apples. Eatables like that. Bread? Bread is for sparrows and pigeons. Birds with humans in their evolutionary history.

Keeping any eye on me as well. He's definitely pecking at bread. Could that be the left over piece of buttered toast? That might seem more attractive. I've decided I don't trust him. He's just doing this to get publicity. Maybe Robins often do this but not in regions where I see them?

There! See. There is actually a crumb in his beak. Okay, that isn't any proof.

Then how about this? Didn't believe me did you?

Seriously, I do go out later and check to make sure that there isn't some kind of tasty insect that has infested the bread and I've been mislead. Nope just old hard dry bread. Tis a mystery.

Donegal Browne