Hawks are Back

Nesting again on Dogwood Ranch, the red-shouldered hawk pair built its nest high in a tree by the dogwoods. True to usual form, they piled sticks in the crotch of two large limbs about 60’ from the ground. Also as usual, they make it very difficult for us to see the nest, much less into it, because it is blocked by limbs and leaves of other trees. Using the binoculars or the telescope, we are able to see what we think are adult tail feathers and every now and then, the fuzz of a chick’s head. Two weekends in a row, while drinking our morning coffee on the porch we heard what sounded like a hawk call from the woods across the creek. But this call did not sound good, not like the strong fully-in-command calls we normally hear from the pair. We grew concerned that maybe one of the hawks was not well, desperately calling its mate. Whatever was making the sickly call from the woods, we soon were relieved to hear that it was not one of the mating pair. The sick call seemed to get the nesting pair’s attention, and they began calling to each other in load, strong healthy calls. One flew to the top of a dead limb on a tree we call the “hawk perch” because they seem to land there often. The bird landed, perched and flew off several times, with loud calls. After about five minutes, the weak call from the woods stopped and the mating pair quieted down. Strange. Could it be an intruder trying to invade their terrirory? Is it last year’s junior hawk (who we never actually saw last year) still hanging around mom and dad a year later? We don’t know but we are certainly glad the pair that we have enjoyed watching and listening to for so long seem healthy and are attending a new chick this year. We will keep an eye on the nest and hope to see junior take flight!