Wellfleet Bay Volunteer Keeps an Eagle Eye on Hawks

Volunteer Jeannette Bragger has been following the progress of a Red-tailed Hawk nest on the Outer Cape often visiting it many times in a day. Recently she shared some of the wonderful photos she’s been taking since June 16. The following are excerpts from a report she made about what she’s seen and learned.

” Both parents worked to build the nest. A few days prior to laying her eggs, the female tended to stay in the nest and to fix up the interior while the male continued to bring in materials.”

Mama Hawk. Female Red-tailed Hawks are usually somewhat larger than males (photo by Jeannette Bragger).

” She laid two eggs somewhere around June 6. She then stayed in the nest while the male brought her food. So far, all of the food has been chipmunks, of which we have an overabundance right now on the Lower Cape. By my first day, the chicks had already hatched.”

Two chicks, proud mom. (photo by Jeannette Bragger).

Since the father is so busy shuttling food to the nest, there aren’t a lot of photos of him. But he certainly deserves credit!

Dad’s arrived (at right) and he’s given Mom another chipmunk! (photo by Jeannette Bragger)

The male doesn’t feed the chippie to his chicks, but turns it over to his mate to cut the food into bite-sized pieces.

Meal time (photo by Jeannette Bragger)

In the next photo, the chicks seemed a little worried when Mom was missing from the nest following their nap:

Hey–where’d she go? (photo by Jeannette Bragger)

But Mom returned and Jeannette’s caption for the final photo is “Please don’t leave again!”

Relief! (photo by Jeannette Bragger).

Red-tailed Hawk chicks fledge about 45 days after hatching. But they’ll continue to receive food from adults for a couple of months.

Jeannette has promised to keep us up to date on this family.