More than spring color.

May 12, 2009

Despite the windy and cloudy day with rain in the forecast I thought I’d try shooting some video of the baby Red-tailed hawks today.  I charged the batteries the night before and made sure I had a striped tape ready.

My trip yesterday revealed they were growing fast and their plumage was progressing beyond the downy stage.  They are starting to look more like birds than puff balls.

No more worries about dad.  I could see two adult Red-tailed hawks soaring over the railroad tracks to the east of the garden. I’m certain they are the chick’s parents. I don’t think two rival hawks would share airspace above a hunting ground.

Today’s adventure started with me trying to remember how to operate my video camera. More than a year had passed since I last used it. It has an idiot mode but I thought I’d try to set up the camera in a more professional manner and actually white balanced.

Since tripods are not permitted in the garden I had to use the monopod.  Hardly the best solution but the best I could do under the circumstances. So here’s the video of one of the youngsters stretching his wings and trying to keep his balance atop the nest.

Mom made a couple of deliveries while I was trying to record the activity in the nest but she spent most of the morning perched on top of an electric utility tower just a few hundred yards from the nest.

Hopefully the light will be more crisp and the winds less gusty on my next visit.

 

Mom takes a breather at the nest after delivering the latest taste treat for her three young chicks.