Great Horned Owl Moves into Hawk Nest 2011
March 29
April 5 Nest is growing
April 5
April 7 Progress here too!
April 10 SOMEBODY has to stand watch
April 15 Pin feathers transformed
April 16
April 17 The gang's all here! Sharon has found a Hummingbird nest with two chicks in it almost ready to fledge. Hard to know where to look first!
April 21 Big YAWN!
April 23 Preening.
April 24
Red-shouldered Hawks mating, San Rafael, California
May 1 Far enough
May1
March 29 One is clearly larger than the other
April 2 Big yawn!
April 5
April 5
April 8
April 12 I guess the nest was not quite tight enough on time.
April 15 Taking on some of Mom's complexity
April 17 Early morning sun
April 17 Itch!
April 23 Mom is not easy to spot.
April 23 Stretching
April 24
May 1 I got there before sunrise because I KNEW they were fledging today. I parked my car opposite the tree and saw a lot of shadowing movement. Photos, as you can see, were impossible. But that didn't stop me!
May 1 Even the smaller chick has ventured out. (Note written on May 7--This is the one that was knocked into the creek by a crow. Dangerous world outside the nest!)
May 1 Finally some sun.
March 29 That means ME!
April 2
April 5 Chicks are growing
April 6 Mom protecting chicks from the sun on a hot day
April 8
April 15
April 16 Spotted Tohee shows up
April 17
April 23
April 23 Awesome wings . . .
April 27 Mom is grooming chick--getting ready for the big day . . .
May 1
May 1 But the larger one is more adventurous.
March 29 Displaced Red-shouldered Hawk frantically building her nest--no doubt eggs ready to drop any minute.
April 2 Chick spreading its wing full of pin feathers . . .
April 5
April 6 The feather patterns are intricate
April 10
April 15 A fine fuzzy fellow
April 16 Woodpecker jumps in--to feed mom?
More hummingbird pictures here http://www.joanrobins.com/Birds/Hummingbirds/Hummingbird-Chicks-Fledge-in/16741950_GQvB5c#1262854944_h8fqGHJ
April 20 Mom has moved out. She usually sits on a limb in the tree to the right of the nest.
April 23 A view from the nest's back porch.
April 24 Mom taking a break.
April 27 Last family portrait in the nest
May 1 According to my Owl book, they walk out onto the limbs--not exactly flying--more like jumping and balancing. It can be a full week before they can fly.
May 1 I didn't realize that I had both owls in view until later.
Unfortunately, sometime after the 24th, the hawks abandoned this nest. Not sure what went wrong--it might have been the wind and rain--or perhaps the nest was invaded. The hawks came back today, April 28th--but not to the nest.
April 2
April 5
April 7 Progress
April 15 Say what!
April 17 Mom still has room in the nest, but not for long . . .
April 20 We think she must be lining the nest with fluff. Not sure where it comes from.
April 23
April 24 Some people say we look alike.
April 27 The hawks have been courting for an hour or so. Perhaps they'll take over the nest again?
May 1 A few more steps with wing action for balance.
Comments