Della Micah
Later on today, and all three are up and at it. They are getting better balance and are starting to stand more upright.
Della Micah
Later on today, and all three are up and at it. They are getting better balance and are starting to stand more upright.
Their growth rate is astonishing. Here's a day-by-day view since last Tuesday, May 7.
Tuesday, May 7
Carol Kiefer
Della Micah
Wednesday, May 8
Della Micah
Thursday, May 9
Della Micah
Friday, May 10
Pamela Raitt
Saturday, May 11
Della Micah
Della Micah
Della Micah
Kevin Vaughan
Mom went for oak leaves...
Kevin Vaughan
Della Micah
Della Micah
... and other times act more like a roof!
Della Micah
Della Micah
T2 had better watch his back whenever he thinks about eating on the nest!
Della Micah
Once the eyasses reached a week old, their thermo-regulatory systems started to kick in and they could generate their own body warmth, so we now don't see Mom sitting on them much.
Della Micah
Additionally, the spring weather has finally warmed up in Philadelphia, and we're enjoying temperatures in the 70s and low 80s. On the warmest days, they spread out to dissipate heat.
Della Micah
When it's cooler, they huddle.
Della Micah
#3 continues to wait at the back of the line to get fed.
Della Micah
She uses her wings to try to push closer to the food supply...
Della Micah
... but then gets squashed over by her bigger siblings.
Della Micah
But she soon pops back up like a little cork...
Della Micah
... only to get flattened again in the others' eagerness to feed.
Della Micah
Finally, she was able to poke up above the others and attract Mom's attention...
Della Micah
... and finally get fed.
Both T2 and Mom continue to bring large sprigs of leaves to the nest.
Here, T2 arrives with maple leaves.
Here, T2 arrives with maple leaves.
Mom went for oak leaves...
... and also walnut leaves.
Della Micah
The leaves sometimes form a garland around the eyasses...
... and other times act more like a roof!
No-one really knows for sure why the hawks keep bringing leaves to the nest. Theories such as repelling insects or reducing food odors have been disproved. Whenever a hawk brings leaves to a nest site, however, it does seem to indicate a strong commitment to that nest and to the other hawk.
I like to think that perhaps these urban hawks who choose not to build their nests in leafy trees are bringing the trees to the city window ledge, hoping to imprint leaves for when the eyasses fledge, so that they will be drawn to the trees across the street as a safe landing place after their first flight out of the nest.
T2 has met all expectations so far in providing sufficient food for Mom and the always-hungry eyasses. The next meal is usually sitting waiting in the pantry at the edge of the nest bowl.
Della Micah
Sometimes the next meal is in the bowl with them, but they are not yet able to feed themselves.
Della Micah
While T2 has definitely mastered the art of hunting for his family, he still has difficulty with Mom's rules of where and when he can eat.
Rule 1 - You are not allowed to eat any food that I am sitting on.
Della Micah
Rule 2 - You are not allowed to remove food from the nest.
Della Micah
So put that down immediately...
Della Micah
... and step away from the carcass.
Della Micah
Rule 3 - You may not eat in front of the children.
Della Micah
Rule 4 - If you break Rule 3, your food will be confiscated.
Della Micah
Rule 5 - Mom is allowed to eat in front of the children. (You can see the departing T2 down below the word "of" in the preceding sentence.)
I like to think that perhaps these urban hawks who choose not to build their nests in leafy trees are bringing the trees to the city window ledge, hoping to imprint leaves for when the eyasses fledge, so that they will be drawn to the trees across the street as a safe landing place after their first flight out of the nest.
T2 has met all expectations so far in providing sufficient food for Mom and the always-hungry eyasses. The next meal is usually sitting waiting in the pantry at the edge of the nest bowl.
Sometimes the next meal is in the bowl with them, but they are not yet able to feed themselves.
While T2 has definitely mastered the art of hunting for his family, he still has difficulty with Mom's rules of where and when he can eat.
Rule 1 - You are not allowed to eat any food that I am sitting on.
Rule 2 - You are not allowed to remove food from the nest.
So put that down immediately...
... and step away from the carcass.
Rule 3 - You may not eat in front of the children.
Rule 4 - If you break Rule 3, your food will be confiscated.
Rule 5 - Mom is allowed to eat in front of the children. (You can see the departing T2 down below the word "of" in the preceding sentence.)
T2 had better watch his back whenever he thinks about eating on the nest!
This Saturday afternoon, T2, in good graces with Mom, helped to feed the eyasses.
Della Micah
As usual, the eyasses were super hungry so both haggards were kept busy stuffing those three little beaks.
Della Micah
Della Micah
Della Micah
As always happens, when they are completely full, they collapse into their food coma...
Della Micah
... until it's time to pop up and eat again.
Della Micah
As night descended on the city, Mom settled in to stand watch over her offspring...
Della Micah
... and there she will stay throughout the night.
Della Micah
Happy Mother's Day to the Franklin Institute's superb formel.
As usual, the eyasses were super hungry so both haggards were kept busy stuffing those three little beaks.
As always happens, when they are completely full, they collapse into their food coma...
... until it's time to pop up and eat again.
As night descended on the city, Mom settled in to stand watch over her offspring...
... and there she will stay throughout the night.
Happy Mother's Day to the Franklin Institute's superb formel.
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Absolutely awesome photos and captions. LOVE your captions. They just "fit". Thanks for bringing us bird lovers these stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Della! Another year following your post from Portugal, on the other side of the Atlantic. Congratulations the photos are amazing and as a bird lover it's always a pleasure to follow your comments and stories. Keep going! And thanks for all the work and for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHave just encountered your page and I guess you should be complimented for this piece. More power to you!
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