Urban Hawks
For as long as memory serves, I have admired animals in the wild. Certain species such snakes, turtles---reptiles in general---along with deer, bear, and big cats have garnered most of the attention. I must confess that although birds are distinctly unique,it has only been during the past several years that a greater appreciation has developed for them.
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I live in the city limits of Kannapolis, NC but this section of the city is primarily rural. When I step outside the door, the surroundings are woodlands on a hillside with a gravel road splitting the territory. Kind of a reminder of West Virginia so in a sense, a slice of the old home interspersed with the present one. The charm of this setting has been the wildlife---deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, opossums, even a gray fox---but none more so than the raptors. Red shouldered hawks by day that give way to their nocturnal counterpart, the barred owl.
Both my wife and I are fascinated by both. During the warmer months, no night is complete without the call of one, sometimes more, barred owls. It is an awesome experience to actually see them fly, perch, then take flight on a downward swoop for a hunt. By day, we witness several hawks flying high above, coasting in the wind, then landing in nests throughout the neighborhood. There is a tranquility created by these birds because one is so enamored by watching them, it becomes Mother Nature's stress tonic. Problems of the day are forgotten if not for more than but a few minutes.
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This winter is the second year that a pair of hawks has returned to a tree directly adjacent to the house to nest. We've affectionately named them "Henry" and "Harriet" and I am convinced it is this same pair because they knew to return to this nest. As of the time of this writing, they have been busy rebuilding last year's nest so it appears they are going to spend another season with us.
Last summer, I took photos of the hawks and their young that hatched of which a few are posted above. No doubt, another family will emerge from this nest in 2011.
Last summer, I took photos of the hawks and their young that hatched of which a few are posted above. No doubt, another family will emerge from this nest in 2011.
I'm hoping to get at least a couple of good images of "Henry" and "Harriet" this year to add here. Taking photos of any owls will be a challenge...the camera will have to be set up and ready in anticipation that one may appear at any time.
Hoo are You
This was the first opportunity to capture an owl with a camera. Unfortunately, the camera settings were not optimized for this shot but I was hesitant to spend the time to do so for fear that the owl would fly off before I was set.
Incredibly, this barred owl was content to perch on this branch in the back yard for about five minutes and was not disturbed by my movements though careful as they were.
I believe this fascinating predator is a resident in the adjacent woods as we hear it calling on any given night. Sometimes there is more than one and we are treated to a cacophany of hoots and calls that echo through the night time woods. Quite a thrill!
Incredibly, this barred owl was content to perch on this branch in the back yard for about five minutes and was not disturbed by my movements though careful as they were.
I believe this fascinating predator is a resident in the adjacent woods as we hear it calling on any given night. Sometimes there is more than one and we are treated to a cacophany of hoots and calls that echo through the night time woods. Quite a thrill!
2013 Update
After returning again in 2012, it appears that the hawks have moved on to another location in the wooded area below the house in 2013. The nest that they had been using and rebuilding each season in a large white oak tree by the house was ravaged by squirrels this year.
Ten Years After
No, not the British band from the 1960s-1970s but the time period since this piece was initially published. For what has been a tumultuous 2020 in many respects, one happy respite has been the return of nesting hawks to the neighborhood. Out of curiosity, I researched the average life span of hawks and a consensus suggests a range of 12-25 years depending on species. During January 2021, I photographed a hawk perching on an oak tree branch in the front yard. Not knowing the domiciliation tendencies of these raptors the thought occurred that the photos below could be one of those young offspring from a decade ago--or possibly Henry or Harriet themselves. Whether true or not, a magnificent animal nonetheless.
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The winged majesty of raptors--hawks, eagles, owls, falcons--are sights to behold and appreciate. Crucial within the natural food chain cycle, these birds are vital to pest control in the animal hierarchy. Both images Dan Robie 2021