Nesting Red-tailed Hawks
Restful Red-tailed Hawk female – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Last week when I photographed this stunning rufous Red-tailed Hawk I saw no signs of her mate or nesting but yesterday I found her again and at first she was alone and perched on a leaning wooden post. After pointing her out, I began to take images of her.
She was lit up by the early morning light with sagebrush and rabbitbrush in the background.
Female Red-tailed Hawk before lifting off from a wooden perch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The rufous colored Red-tailed Hawk seemed to glow in the light, everything about her is striking.
Side note: This Red-tailed Hawk has light colored eyes, she had the same color eyes last year when she nested. This Red-tailed Hawk is definitely an adult but she has lighter colored eyes than most adults I photograph.
Red-tailed Hawk female on a lichen covered cliff face – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
The female Red-tailed Hawk seemed to be warming up in the morning sun and I don’t think she could have looked more gorgeous than when she rested on this lichen covered cliff face. She and the rocks on the cliff are so naturally colorful.
Male Red-tailed Hawk carrying nesting material in his bill – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I was delighted to find out that she does have a mate this year, a lighter colored male who was busy finding and delivering nesting materials to their nest.
Close up of a male Red-tailed Hawk in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Her mate isn’t as vibrantly colored as she is yet he is still a striking and beautiful hawk. He flew past at close range at one point and I couldn’t fit all of him into the viewfinder.
It didn’t matter to me, I love this close up of him with the well lit cliff face behind him as he circled and then flew towards the female who was perched high up the hillside on a boulder.
Male Red-tailed Hawk after lifting off from a cliff – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I did take photos of both the male and the female working on the nest but I am withholding those images to protect the location and their nest. If I seem a little vague when writing about these nesting Red-tailed Hawks that is being done purposely.
Please don’t ask me where this nest is. I don’t divulge nest locations, especially owl or raptor nests, unless they are well known which this nest isn’t.
I don’t announce a nest locations publicly anyway because unfortunately there are unethical people who might harass these hawks by approaching too close, by staying too long at the nest, or by being at the nest too often. The hawks could abandon the nest before they lay eggs or abandon the eggs after they are laid.
Guidelines On Photographing Nesting Birds:
- Do not approach too closely;
- If the birds show any sign of distress, back away;
- Don’t trim leaves, twigs or branches to get a clearer shot, you may inadvertently attract predators or cause the eggs/chicks to over heat;
- Follow local, state and federal guidelines concerning nesting birds;
- Don’t harass the birds to get an action shot;
- Don’t stay a long time with nesting birds or chicks, that disrupts their normal behavior;
- Always put the safety and comfort of the birds first.
For more information on the ethics of photographing nesting birds or chicks check out the Principles of Birding Ethics published by the American Birding Association.
Male Red-tailed Hawk taking a break from nest building – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
There was at one point an aerial skirmish between this pair of nesting Red-tailed Hawks and a Golden Eagle that flew past, this pair of hawks took to the air and chased that eagle off. In this photo the male is taking a break from nest building on the same perch I found the female on earlier in the morning.
I’m happy to see that the rufous female Red-tailed Hawk does have a mate and that they are building a nest to raise their young in, I hope they are successful.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Note: These photos were taken from inside a vehicle being used as a mobile blind with sufficient distance between the nest and the vehicle so the hawks went about their business naturally. The comfort, safety and well being of the birds is always more important to me than the photos, especially during the nesting season.
Great to see them coming back to the same nest.
Wonderful series and images.
Stunning pair I hope they are successful!
Great Hawk photos! I especially liked the three shots of the male in flight. The statements on ethics of photographing nesting birds are also good common sense reminders….yet as most of us have come to learn, common sense is not all that common.
What a great series of shots! The detail you captured with the hawks…along with the background colors and textures, is simply amazing. Thanks Mia.
One of our pair of red tails is back from migration. The pair have spent the summer here in Uintah Highlands for the last several years and fledge one or two chicks each year. Handsome birds you’ve photographed.
They do make quite the handsome couple. Your closeup shot of the male in flight is stunning! Thank you also for reiterating the importance of ETHICAL nature photography!
Beautiful photos as always. I certainly understand your decision not to divulge the nesting site. Unfortunately, there are just too many unethical people around.
Great series and commentary…thanks so much