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.

Mama always has her eyes on the surroundings.
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
One of the parents with a meal for the babies. They often stop at the trees across the pond before flying to the nest.
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
Animals Hawk
The feathers are just beginning to grow on the babies.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Exchanging a meal.
Animals Birds Hawk
The babies are getting bigger and so are their meals. A rat is on the menu for today.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
After dropping of the rat the male (I'm assuming) leaves the nest and baby watches him fly away.
Animals Birds Hawk
Mama sits motionless for a few minutes before feeding the babies. I assume she is checking her surroundings to be sure it's ok to feed them.
Animals Birds Hawk
The babies often play under the feathers of the parents. In this image one has his head covered with the breast feathers of the parent.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Time to start eating.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
"Look at my ears!" I'm pretty sure that's what he was saying.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Mama tears the rat apart with her beak and feeds the babies.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Mama tears the rat apart with her beak and feeds the babies. Nothing goes to waste.
Animals Birds Hawk
Mama tears the rat apart with her beak and feeds the babies. Nothing goes to waste.
Animals Birds Hawk
They eat everything, fur and all.
Animals Birds Hawk
After eating more playing around begins.
Animals Birds Hawk
The three little babies - always with their beaks open and tongues sticking out.
Animals Birds Hawk
One little guy likes to hope around a lot in the nest.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
As the babies get bigger the parents often sit on a branch near the lest rather than in the nest itself.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Found one of the babies at the bottom of the tree this morning. He either jumped or fell out of the tree. My guess is it is the one that jumped around all the time. I think he probably jumped a little too much and out of the nest.
Animals Birds Hawk
Both parents each bring small frogs for the babies to eat.
Animals Birds Hawk
Both parents each bring small frogs for the babies to eat.
Animals Birds Hawk
He either dropped the frog or ate it before flying off.
Animals Birds Hawk
The babies feathers are beginning to grow across their bodies now.
Animals Birds Hawk
Rabbit stew for dinner today. The parent has a rabbit's foot in her beak about to feed one of the babies.
Animals Birds Hawk
Again the parent tears the meal apart and everything is eaten, fur and all.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
As soon as he finished eating this guy relieved himself.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Mama seems to see something a little threatening.
Animals Birds Hawk

SHAWN JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

Red Shouldered Hawk