Mayday, mayday --- we have a hatch!

At about 8:53 AM on Wednesday, May 1, the first egg hatched.  Geoffrey Moulton captured this image of the eyass halfway out of the shell.  T2 was on delivery duty and was clearly a bit frazzled at these developments.

            Geoffrey Moulton

This was an incredibly fast hatching as the first pip was seen on the middle egg less than 20 minutes earlier at 8:35 AM.

            Geoffrey Moulton


T2 clearly knew something was up as he anxiously awaited Mom's return.  He kept getting up, peering down at the eggs...

              Della Micah


 ... and then settled back down looking out, waiting for his mate to come back.

          Della Micah


When Mom finally returned, she carried in a large piece of greenery.

          Della Micah


If hawks could speak...."What in heck happened here while I was gone?"  T2 was already heading out to the front of the nest....he couldn't get out of there fast enough!

          Della Micah


Experienced hawk that she is - this is her fifth year with this nest - she knew exactly what to do.  She peered down at the baby eyass....

          Della Micah


... and then settled down to keep it and its shelled siblings warm, while twitching her greenery into place.

          Della Micah

          Della Micah

Stay tuned for more developments!