Bird Cams Around the World

Cam is back up here

Raptor Cam Blog





February 14, 2012: Courting Red-tails by Bob Sallinger
kgw.com
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 10:15 PM


In the spirit of Valentines Day I thought I would do a blog on red-tail courtship. Many red-tails migrate but the Raptor Cam red-tails remain on or near their territory year round. Red-tails are monogamous usually staying together until one of the pair dies. The same pair of hawks have occupied this territory since Raptor Cam began in 2007. The pair remain near one another not just during nesting season but throughout the entire year.

Nest repair or construction typically begins in February. Viewers of Raptor Cam during February will often find the nest empty but those who watch long enough are likely to see the birds periodically flying in and weaving new sticks and branches into the existing nest.

Throughout February and early March visitors to downtown Portland should listen for the raspy, high pitched red-tail call "eeeerrrrrr" emanating from overhead. The pair is likely to be seen soaring together in wide circles, flying in tandem, tail chasing, doing spectacular aerial displays, even locking talons and tumbling through the air. The male may shoot steeply downward and then reverse direction and shoot steeply upward again. Courting red-tails will also dangle their legs as they fly. These displays have been described as "sky dancing." .

The courtship displays also serve a second function as territorial displays warning other red-tails that the territory is occupied. Entry into the territory by interloping red-tails could result in aggressive attacks.

The male will deliver presents to the female---think rats and pigeons rather than flowers and chocolate. Food can be delivered to a nearby ledge, exchanged talon to talon during flight or even dropped and caught in mid air.

Copulation can occur throughout the nesting season but peaks just before eggs are laid.

Hopefully these courtship tips will be useful to you as you woo your own sweetie. Happy Valentines Day

Am so glad our Raptor cam is back up! Just LOVE my sweet rth's...Was so glad to see Bob had posted an update on K2, and am soooo happy he is being used as an educational hawk instead of having been euthanized.

Will keep watching for male or female as they are doing nestorations for the next 2 weeks

I have a question for our rehabbers out there...What is the "right" thing to do? How am I to look at this with the "right" perspective? Just because a hawk or eagle is blind in an eye, or injured, doesnt mean its life has to end. So then, what about the eagle (now famous), who had his wing shot partially off, and surgery was done to amputate the wing. The eagle can no longer fly. But he is alive, and used as an educational eagle, and seems to enjoy his handler handling him and playing with him etc. Did they do the "right" thing? Or is a bird's design and drive to "fly" so great, that to keep it alive when it cannot fly - would be cruel?? I had selfishly always thought that as long as it was alive, reasonably, we did the right thing.

But with the rth at one of the now famous rehab facilities, a decision was made that with an injured wing, to amputate the wing would not be the moral or "right" thing to do, and he was euthanized. I was so sad to hear and read that news, as I just loved the little creature and it sure seemed peppy and joyful.

So I am wondering just how, should I be looking at this. When does it become the wrong thing to do? Does a raptor have a purpose within itself, for life, if it cannot fly? I question this because I always thought LIFE was the better choice. If I am not "looking" at this from the right perspective, I would like to know quite honestly, and directly, how to look at it. What is really best for the bird? and I not only mean with this bird, but example, even now we see videos of dogs w/o front legs, squirrels w/o legs, blind dogs, blind cats, and all have found a family that loves them and can care for them. Their life seems worthwhile and joyful. Is it the same for a bird who cannot fly? How do they draw the line and say "we cannot morally amputate a birds wing" ? I truly would like to know so I can feel I am looking at this from the humane, "right" perspective...

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY OF YOUR POSTS TO THIS ISSUE!

Here you go LeeLee maybe get both soon it is wonderful about K2

Possibly some disappointing news from the Portland Audubon RedTailed Hawk cam - we may not be able to watch the redtails this season...also, could not get cam up today, but no posting it was shut down, so we will have to wait and see. Latest date our home pair have laid eggs at this site is March 15th. Bob mentioned in earlier post that there has been alot of hail and rain this year, which I wonder if that has effected their decision... just hate waiting!!



"March 8: Where are the Raptors? .by Bob Sallinger
kgw.com

Posted on March 9, 2012 at 12:12 PM

Updated Friday, Mar 9 at 12:45 PM


We might have some disappointing news---activity at the existing Raptor Cam nest has pretty much stopped.

At the same time a pair of red-tails has been actively nest building on another building close by.

We will be checking it out over the next few days and reporting back.

It is not uncommon for red-tails to have alternative nest sites so our pair may be moving on.

However I would not give-up hope yet. Until they lay and egg all bets are off. That's nature!



Bob Sallinger"

of course, if this is not our hawks, and ours do nest at this site, things will be very interesting this year...

"Our" red tailed hawks have "flown the coop" as Bob Salinger says, and appear to be nesting at the Courthouse building. There was apparently a huge fight between them and peregrine falcon pair that wanted to nest there too.

Bob says Audubon is working with the courthouse folks to see that the birds are undisturbed by passerbys or people coming and going, and window washers, etc. but still have to work out details as it is afterall, a courthouse which has its own security issues with it.

He hopes there can be a cam installed for next year, should they continue to use that nest.

He says they will leave the Raptor Cam on in case of visiting parents or juveniles later, but right now there is a technical problem with the cam that needs to be fixed.

I will miss our sweet Red Tailed Hawk parents, and their wonderful antics with a brood, and we know they make beautiful babies

See you next year sweeties