Red’s ledge
I wanted to share a few last photos of our Cornell trip yesterday.
Twice now, when we’ve visited the hawks, Red has spent some time perched on a ledge of the building across the street from the nest. She enjoyed the sun there yesterday before Chick 1 left the nest. Maybe it’s a sauna-type experience for her, surrounded by warm brick.
It’s not necessarily easy to see her there, though — till you step back a bit.
She is such an athlete. I love to see the power when she launches, unfurling all that energy and strength.
She sets a great example for young birds with much to learn about mastering the air. The hawk chicks watched as they practiced their own feats of daring.
While two of the hawklets flapped and considered, the third power-lounged.
Yesterday as we drove home, I had the bittersweet awareness that we won’t be able to follow these young hawks much longer. I think it was a classic empty-nest feeling. Part of me is relieved that I won’t know all the scrapes they get into. But I’ll always wonder how they fared.
I hope that they find the wits and resourcefulness to rise to every challenge.
These hawks have parents who show them how it’s done with grace.
4 Comments
MyAnimalAddiction
Janet, You have not only taken truly incredible pictures of Ezra, Red & their hawklets, but you have written just the right words to express how so many of us feel about this family–and probably most wild things that we are fortunate enough to watch on-line or in person. Thank you for sharing all of this. Really beautiful!
Janet
Someone on the chat joked about a hawkoholic support group once all the chicks are gone. 🙂
I find the whole experience really interesting that way… With knowledge comes responsibility, but in this case there’s nothing for us to do with our feeling of responsibility — nothing specific to these hawks, anyway. But I’m sure the heightened awareness of hawks in general will have effects.
joan
Thank you, Janet. Fabulous photos. What type of camera do you use?
Janet
I use a Rebel t3i with a Canon 70-300 lens.