juvenile coopers hawk in the grass The Saga
of
Rufous and Henrietta Hawk

Chapter 15

Empty Nest

June 19

Jay and I returned today from our trip to find Henrietta alone in the nest, panting in the heat, her babies gone. Empty Nest

The branches of several live oaks intertwine with the nest tree, making a natural playground for fledgling hawks, and sure enough, we heard rustling in the leaves! We soon spotted one of the little hawks fluttering about, jumping from limb to limb.

Click to enlarge

Hawk Chick Larry Hawk Chick Larry Hawk Chick Larry

I have no idea which of the three it was, but we speculated that it might be Larry, left behind while Curly and Moreen ventured out further from the nest. No doubt they all return to the nest for meals. Surely, at five weeks, they’re a bit young to hunt.

Continue to Chapter 16: The Dinner Plate

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