August in Philadelphia means high heat, humidity and vicious thunderstorms. This month is now close to being the wettest EVER in Philadelphia, a dramatic change from the near-drought conditions of June and early July.
Our hawk family seems quite unperturbed by the severe rain and thunderstorms of this past week. I worried about them in the midst of the high winds and lightning, and hoped that they had found shelter and could sleep. John Blakeman shared some information about this in the first season of the Franklin nest:
"Where do the hawks sleep on windy, rainy nights?
When they sleep, they turn their heads around and tuck them into the fluffed-up feathers of the back. A sleeping hawk looks morbidly headless.
"Where do the hawks sleep on windy, rainy nights?
When they sleep, they turn their heads around and tuck them into the fluffed-up feathers of the back. A sleeping hawk looks morbidly headless.
On rainy, windy, or otherwise unfavorable nights red-tails typically fly into a large hardwood tree, perch on a horizontal limb that allows the toes to wrap around the branch and grip it. But on a cold, windy, rainy, winter’s night, it would seem hard to be able to sleep in such a position.
Here’s how it’s done. Red-tails, like most other birds, have an interesting and useful foot locking mechanism used when sleeping. As the bird begins to nod off, there is a ratchet-like band of tissue that can be tightened around the inside of the leg. Once tightened, it sticks together somewhat like velcro, locking the bird’s grip on the branch. The hawk doesn't have to pay any attention to holding on during the night. The bird’s toes are physically locked around the branch, and normal winds cause no problems.
I’ve never encountered a sleeping red-tail in a gale. I think in those situations the bird must both lock its toes around the branch, and also stay awake and lean over into the wind. I don't know this, either, but I presume that the birds in these situations will attempt to park themselves in a somewhat protected position in the tree or woodlot.
What about heavy rains? This is exactly why red-tails spend so much of their time diligently preening their feathers. As with all birds, they have theKay Meng
oil gland on their rump. The lean over and strop their bill on this gland, pick up some feather oil, and then preen it into all the feathers on the body. When well-preened, water runs off a hawk’s back almost as well as water off a duck’s back. Still, in the heaviest down pour, the outer feathers can get soaked. But the fluffy, inner down feathers remain oiled and water repellent. After a summer rainstorm we often seen a sodden red-tail. Underneath, though, she’s warm and dry. Red-tails, like all birds, are like turtles. They carry their houses of feathers with them wherever they go."
Above is the formel (mom) drying off on one of the many spotlights that illuminate landmark Philadelphia buildings.
The rain also fills up the spots where the hawks like to bathe. One of their favorites is the ledge that runs above the nest at the Franklin Institute. Here's mom after a quick dip.
On Sunday, the tiercel (dad) decided to make good use of the morning sun and one of the fountains in front of the Art Museum. You can just make him out under the falling water on the bottom ledge of the two-tiered fountain slightly to the right.
Scott Kemper
Here's a closer view....
Scott Kemper
He then hopped up into the higher bowl of the fountain...
Scott Kemper
... and seemed to be enjoying the flow of water
Joe Debold
Joe Debold
The eyasses are always curious to explore whatever catches their eye whether on land or....in a puddle! Earlier this month after a rainstorm, one of the eyasses waded into this puddle at the ball field, and started to drag out an old t-shirt.
Joe Debold
When he landed it, he seemed a bit at a loss of what to do next!
Joe Debold
We thought he was going to go at it again...
Joe Debold
... but perhaps sensing we were in silent hysterics at the antics - an OMG moment, to be sure! - he reclaimed his dignity with a quick drink....
Joe Debold
... and then stomped off through the puddle, an eyass on a mission...
Joe Debold
... to inspect the next curiosity.
Joe Debold
It reached down with its beak to grab at something in the water...
Kay Meng
... a sycamore leaf!
Kay Meng
By this time, we were laughing out loud, and far from being scared, the eyass merely gazed at us in apparent disdain!
Kay Meng
It is a continuing miracle how unconcerned these hawks are at our proximity. They go about their business as if we are a familiar part of their landscape. Earlier this month in the grounds of the Rodin Museum we had a ringside seat for another puddle episode.
The eyass headed toward the water, and seemed attracted by the sun-dried leaves.
Joe Debold
It messed around with the leaves...
Kay Meng
... then took several sips of the rainwater.
Joe Debold
Joe Debold
Joe Debold
Joe Debold
Next, a bath seemed in order...
Kay Meng
Joe Debold
... then off to inspect something interesting...
Kay Meng
... which turned out to be a plastic cup.
Joe Debold
We then enjoyed the pretty reflection.
Joe Debold
And now a shameless request for your vote for the Hawkwatch blog in the Most Valuable Blogger contest! The blog has been named a finalist, and fans can vote EVERY DAY until the contest closes on September 9.
http://philadelphia.blogger.cbslocal.com/most-valuable-blogger/blog/64-hawkwatch-at-the-franklin-institute
If we can win an award - $50 Amazon gift certificate - I plan to donate it to the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab Center which is taking such good care of our injured eyass, #3.
Thanks for voting early and OFTEN!
Here's a closer view....
He then hopped up into the higher bowl of the fountain...
... and seemed to be enjoying the flow of water
The eyasses are always curious to explore whatever catches their eye whether on land or....in a puddle! Earlier this month after a rainstorm, one of the eyasses waded into this puddle at the ball field, and started to drag out an old t-shirt.
When he landed it, he seemed a bit at a loss of what to do next!
We thought he was going to go at it again...
... but perhaps sensing we were in silent hysterics at the antics - an OMG moment, to be sure! - he reclaimed his dignity with a quick drink....
... and then stomped off through the puddle, an eyass on a mission...
... to inspect the next curiosity.
It reached down with its beak to grab at something in the water...
... a sycamore leaf!
By this time, we were laughing out loud, and far from being scared, the eyass merely gazed at us in apparent disdain!
It is a continuing miracle how unconcerned these hawks are at our proximity. They go about their business as if we are a familiar part of their landscape. Earlier this month in the grounds of the Rodin Museum we had a ringside seat for another puddle episode.
The eyass headed toward the water, and seemed attracted by the sun-dried leaves.
It messed around with the leaves...
... then took several sips of the rainwater.
Next, a bath seemed in order...
... then off to inspect something interesting...
... which turned out to be a plastic cup.
We then enjoyed the pretty reflection.
And now a shameless request for your vote for the Hawkwatch blog in the Most Valuable Blogger contest! The blog has been named a finalist, and fans can vote EVERY DAY until the contest closes on September 9.
http://philadelphia.blogger.cbslocal.com/most-valuable-blogger/blog/64-hawkwatch-at-the-franklin-institute
If we can win an award - $50 Amazon gift certificate - I plan to donate it to the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehab Center which is taking such good care of our injured eyass, #3.
Thanks for voting early and OFTEN!
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