Growing up fast

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For several years now we’ve had a large active Red-shouldered Hawk nest in our local wetlands. This fierce-looking fellow is one of the two juveniles hatched earlier this spring. “When about 5–6 wk old, young begin climbing out on branches away from nest.” (Birds of the World)

The week I took this photo, the juveniles had graduated from ‘branching’ to flying short distances between the dense cypress trees circling a pond close to their nest. A week later I didn’t see either of the juveniles, and I suspect they may have fledged.

“Chicks mature quickly, within about a month and a half, before making their final flight off the nest to establish their own territories as fledglings.” (All About Birds)

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