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.

Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Getting a little more venturesome, the babies fly to nearby branches in the tree that their nest is in. They will sit perched for long periods of time.
Animals Birds Hawk
The parents still provide food for the babies. This one is about to eat another smaller bird.
Animals Birds Hawk
It took him a few minutes to figure out how to tear apart the flesh of the bird. He finally had success with the head.
Animals Birds Hawk
Don't know for sure, but I think that's the brains from the little bird.
Animals Birds Hawk
The parent brought a small rabbit for this meal. The bird up in the tree hopped down along the branch until he got closer to the nest.
Animals Birds Hawk
Once he felt comfortable jumped into the nest landing on the parents back. It was quite funny to see his crash landing.
Animals Birds Hawk
Animals Birds Hawk
Eating the rabbit for dinner. It's amazing how large the pieces of meat are that the birds will swallow whole.
Animals Birds Hawk

SHAWN JENNINGS PHOTOGRAPHY

Red Shouldered Hawk