Newborns at St. John the Divine

By D. Bruce YoltonSt. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

I visited the Cathedral twice on Saturday.  In the late morning, and in the late afternoon. The nest is too high and too deep to see into, so we depend on the behavior changes of the parents as our clue that there are eyasses. 

There were plenty of clues on Saturday, including food being taken into the nest, lots of feeding behavior, etc.

In the morning, when I arrived, no one was to be seen.  Soon the adult male arrived on the Archangel.

Through gaps in the twigs, I thought I saw a chick.
Here I thought I saw a head with two eyes briefly.  But it could be wishful thinking.
The adult female.
I’m not sure who’s flying in.
Both parents on the nest. Note the tail on the left.
The mother then…
…leaves the nest, and I go up north to Highbridge and Inwood Hill.

In the afternoon, I return around 5:00 p.m.

All is quite until the male comes in with a rodent.  He moves to a higher branch and soon goes to the nest.
The male landing on the nest.
He quickly leaves.
His mate watches him leave.
Soon feeding behavior starts.
And then the female settles in.  However, much higher than when she was sitting on eggs.