The Nest (More Adventures in Bad Birding)

Well I know the secret places, 

And the nests in hedge and tree; 

At what doors are friendly faces, 

In what hearts are thoughts of me. 

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This morning Zelda and I journeyed to the park (I started to type "the church") to see if the hawks were still busy with their nest. 

We had driven downtown with MC on Sunday - to pick up our lunch. As we drove across the bridge over Nolan Creek a hawk with a beak-full of nesting material flew over us. That holy experience called us to today's pilgrimage.

I've been advised that one must take care when monitoring nesting sites. Besides laws against disturbing nesting birds, one can also disclose (unintentionally) locations to predators as well as the curious and disrespectful. Always respect the wildlife.* So, approach carefully, from different directions each time, and only every few days. Daily trips could be dangerous - even for raptors.

We left the sidewalk and strolled over to the creek - well upstream of the nesting area. But when I looked up (from a dog madly sniffing all the good smells the park has to offer) I found myself within ten feet of a tree bearing a Red-shouldered Hawk, perching just at eye-level.

We gazed at each other briefly before it flew downstream.

This had not been my plan.**

The hawk was now moving about in a tree looking for the "right" twig. I'd seen this behavior before - the picking out of the perfect building material. I was relieved our interaction did not seem to frighten the bird as it picked a good-sized stick and maneuvered over to the nesting tree - ignoring the weird little dog and crazy-woman watching from a distance (now). It perched above the nest and then flew downward where it carefully placed the new stick.

The right twig - it really was quite large and the hawk had to work to get it free from surrounding limbs.

The hawk is that dark spot above the nest to the right.

Here you see the head of the hawk as it maneuvers the twig. The nest is much larger and appears sturdier than what we observed before the wild weather of the last few weeks.

Zelda and I headed down the trail, observed other creatures, visited with our friend and park worker LT (I promised to show him the nest sometime when he has the time), spied another Red-shouldered Hawk (was it following us?), and ended up back in the "nesting area." But we were well-away from the nest - on the sidewalk and easily 50 yards or more from the tree. And this nest is located high up in the tree - higher than either of the other two RSH nests we have seen in these parks.

The Fox Squirrels recognize a foe in Zelda. 

Domestic duck eggs (9) in a casual-looking nest near the Main Street Bridge.

American Robin sunning.

American Crow

The Great Blue Heron flew up to its fishing area as we were heading back to the car. I wonder how many photos I've taken of GBHs here.

Fox Squirrels often scurry up a tree and find a notch where they can stop and check-out the pursuer. Zelda rarely gets to chase a squirrel these days (see footnote), but the squirrels know her type.

Do you see the hawk? This is near the former low-water crossing (2 parks and 3/4 of a mile away from the nesting site.

Here it is - Red-shouldered Hawk.

As we finished our walk - back where we had started started we heard a hawk calling and another answering. We looked around to see if we could find one or both of them. And we stopped to listen for a while. If you listen, they tell you their secrets.

I have no secrets. It is no secret that I love this park.

This hawk was calling - loudly. It was almost mournful. The other seemed to be at a distance. 

Do you see how far we were from the hawk and nest this time? The nest is to the left of center above the x of two trees. The hawk is to the right of center perched out on a limb and slightly higher than the location of the nest.

And my park loves me.

NOTES:

* #6 of the 7 Leave No Trace Principles https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/leave-no-trace.html

**I am still a bad birder