Red Shouldered Hawk

At work a couple black birds built a nest in a tulip tree just outside the window of the third floor of our building. When they were finished building the nest a couple Red Shouldered Hawks gave them the boot and set up residency. They've generated quite a bit of interest among my fellow employees since it's not every day we get to see a clear view into the nesting habits of raptors in the wild. This gallery contains some of the images I've taken of the new tenants.

During the first few weeks the parents take turns tending the nest.
Birds Hawk
The parents bring twigs, leaves, feathers to add to the nest. They will do this the whole time they're occupying the nest.
Birds Hawk
When they're not working on the nest they're sitting in it. It looks like they take turns incubating the eggs.
Birds Hawk
When they're not working on the nest they're sitting in it. It looks like they take turns incubating the eggs.
Birds Hawk
The female was in the nest at the time this picture was taken, so I think this is the male. He sat on a branch below the nest for a couple minutes screeching. I didn't see anything of danger to them, but maybe he saw something I didn't see.
Birds Hawk
The female was in the nest at the time this picture was taken, so I think this is the male. He sat on a branch below the nest for a couple minutes screeching. I didn't see anything of danger to them, but maybe he saw something I didn't see.
Birds Hawk
The female was in the nest at the time this picture was taken, so I think this is the male. He sat on a branch below the nest for a couple minutes screeching. I didn't see anything of danger to them, but maybe he saw something I didn't see.
Birds Hawk
The female was in the nest at the time this picture was taken, so I think this is the male. He sat on a branch below the nest for a couple minutes screeching. I didn't see anything of danger to them, but maybe he saw something I didn't see.
Birds Hawk
They seem to perch on this branch across the pond from the nest when they are moving to or from the nest. Possibly to check that it's all clear before approaching the nest? In this instance this hawk descended toward the water after I took this picture. I'm assuming he was in the hunt for food.
Birds Hawk
Both of the hawks in the nest at the same time. There is not much room at all for both of them to be there at the same time.
Birds Hawk
Getting ready to take flight...
Birds Hawk
She caught me standing there with the camera. She gives a stare down for a few minutes before going on about her business.
Birds Hawk
She caught me standing there with the camera. She gives a stare down for a few minutes before going on about her business.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
After moving into the new nest the hawks began remodeling by adding more twigs and leaves to it. Replenishing the nest is something they actually do the entire time they are using it.
Birds Hawk
In this image the male brought a new twig to the nest to keep it built up. The female is unmoved when he lands in the nest and drops off the twig. This happens several time throughout the day.
Birds Hawk
The hawks can see us looking at them through the window and occasionally give us a stare down. For the most part they're not phased by us being there.
Birds Hawk
The female (I'm assuming) has some little white feathers on the top of her beak. I don't know if these are her own or if they got "stuck" there from something they brought into the nest. Either way she doesn't seem bothered by them and doesn't attempt to remove them.
Birds Hawk
Birds Hawk
The babies hatched somewhere between the second and third week of incubation. Right away the parents began feeding them. In this image one hawk brought a small frog to the nest and handed it off to the other before flying away to hunt for more.
Animals Hawk
Food for the babies - a small frog. The top of the babies fuzzy heads can now be seen in the nest.
Animals Hawk
One hawk has flown away while the other prepares to dissect the little frog into pieces for the babies.
Animals Hawk
We are amazed that this nest stays in place. It seems to barely be tucked between the branches of the tree.
Animals Hawk
We are amazed that this nest stays in place. It seems to barely be tucked between the branches of the tree.
Animals Hawk
It's a bird eat bird world. The hawks will feed their babies small birds that they capture. In this image the hawk has the leg of a small bird in her beak as she gets ready to feed her baby.
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
It's amazing how patient the parents are with the babies as they feed them.
Animals Hawk
The baby's eyes are not yet open, so they rely entirely on the parents to place the food in their mouths. They don't chew either, they swallow the food whole.
Animals Hawk
In this image the baby has swallowed most of the leg of the bird it's eating. You can see the foot just outside the baby's beak.
Animals Hawk
When they're not feeding the birds the parents sit almost motionless watching over them.
Animals Hawk
When they're not feeding the birds the parents sit almost motionless watching over them.
Animals Hawk
The babies are about two weeks old and their eyes are opening and they're able to control their bodies a little better.
Animals Hawk
It could be my imagination, but I think the babies are twice the size they were last week.
Animals Hawk
Just my opinion, but the babies are pretty ugly right now. They look like little aliens to me.
Animals Hawk
Mama hawk (I assume) keeps close guard of her babies.
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
No, it's not a song bird, though they do make a lot of noise. It's a big ol' yawn.
Animals Hawk
Big ol' yawn, part 2.
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
This type of interaction happens often. Makes me wonder if there is something being communicated from the parent.
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk

SHAWN JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

Red Shouldered Hawk