FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Red-shouldered Hawk & Cardinal nests updates

["Michael Shapiro" <sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello, all-
    Had my first good look at the nest practically next door to me this 
evening. While I was watching, mommy(?) flew up with food. Immediately, two and 
then a third head appeared out of the nest. Up until this evening, I had only 
ever seen one baby in the nest. It's nice to know there are three. How many are 
there usually? Any ideas? Anyway, the babies are still young enough that mommy 
(or daddy) still has to cut up their food for them. I watched for about 10 
minutes as the parent tore off pieces of whatever it had caught for the young 
ones. I never could tell what it was. The only things I've ever seen in the 
woods behind me are squirrels, raccoons, and chipmunks. Guessing by the look of 
some of the pieces, I would say squirrel was on the menu this evening (YES!! 
WOO-HOO!!). Typical meal for a red-necked ... er, I mean Red-SHOULDERED Hawk.
    I got good enough looks at the young to tell that they were of different 
ages, as is typical in raptor nests. One had a good amount of gray feathers on 
its head. A second had a moderate amount, and the third still seemed to be all 
fluffy white down. At least one had wings that were almost completely brown (at 
least, on top). All three young 'uns seem quite healthy.
    The Cardinals that were nesting outside my window are gone, though I have 
not seen any juvie Cardinals in my yard begging for food. There were four, I 
believe, in the nest. I haven't heard them in quite a while. I'm wondering if 
some creature found them and had a good meal. The nest is empty. Will Cardinals 
that loose their young or eggs try to nest again? If so, would they sue the 
same nest? E-mail me off the listserve (about the typical # of RSH young, too).

Michael Shapiro
Northside Henrico
sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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