Las Gallinas 2016

They're back! That's a female red-shouldered hawk sitting on eggs. This hawk and her mate are 2 tough, tenacious birds. The first time I saw this pair nesting in the Starr Academy parking lot was in the spring of 2007, but it's possible they raised families there even before that. Red-shouldered hawks return to the same spot year after year and can breed for 16 years or more. From 2007 - 2010, the hawks occupied the same nest and successfully raised chicks each year. When the hawks arrived for the 2011 breeding season, they found their nest occupied by great horned owls. That was the first in a string of hardships for the hawks. Next was the loss of their eggs and new nest that same year. In 2012, the hawks battled the same owls and ultimately lost their chicks (probably to the owls), but not before knocking the entire owl family from its nest. The owls elected to find a new home in 2013, which enabled the hawks to have a peaceful breeding year, culminating with the fledging of 2 chicks. The hawks went missing in 2014 and 2015, most likely due to the drought. This morning I spotted the nest, but it looked unoccupied. A few moments later, it made my heart sing to see the female's head bob just above the twigs. This looks like a new nest, but it's in the same location as the one from 2013.