June 6, 2011

Red Tailed Hawk Chicks are Growing Up

Our local neighborhood Red-Tailed Hawk chicks, William and Kate are growing up.  They are keeping their parents very busy.  The other day each parent flew in with a juicy squirrel within two minutes of each other.  For a few days we saw only one chick and were concerned that possibly the stormy weather had blown one out of the nest.  When the weather calmed, it became apparent that both were still safe and also robust.  In a couple of weeks they will fledge and the neighborhood will become very noisy.  When they are learning to fly and hunt, they spend a good deal of time screaming for their parents.  That will go on for 4 - 6 weeks, then suddenly there will be absolute silence. The chicks will have flown off to discover their own territories.  It makes me appreciate how lucky I am that my chicks still keep in touch.