March 29. These pictures were taken from 10:15 a.m to 11:00. After the photos, I am providing some nesting facts. Old enough! This took place in dead eucalyptus tree. A Tree Swallow observes.
Female returns to second tree, where there is a nest that has been used by RSH before. Here she is yelling for her mate.
(As seen from Pond B water -platform, at back.)
She decides to work on the nest. She yells for him to help rehabilitate the old nest.
“Like almost all raptors, the RSH is monogamous and territorial….RSH’s mating season is between April and July…The breeding pair builds a stick nest (also including shredded bark, leaves and green sprigs) in a major fork of a large tree. They often use the same nest year after year [hopefully they will, but this looks like a young pair . They can reproduce as young as one year old.] The clutch size is typically three to four eggs…The incubation period can range from 28-33 days. Hatching is asynchronous, with the first chick hatching up to a week before the last…Pairs that nest earlier in the breeding season tend to lay greater numbers of eggs and have higher productivity from these eggs. The male often captures food [ voles, mice, gophers, small snakes, small birds] but will incubate and brood occasionally. The young leave the nest at about six weeks of age but remain dependent on the parents until they are 17-19 weeks old.”
I will monitor the nest. I cannot avoid doing so, as how many future chances will I have? Senior docent can be defined in more than one way. Will I see you out there? If not, why not?
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