[Bristol-Birds] Hawk with Nesting Material?

Area Birders,
Yesterday 2/10/04 a fellow, who lives in the Breaks community near the
Breaks Interstate Park, related this story to a Buchanan County Bird Club
member.

The fellow heard several crows making a racket and went to investigate. He
saw a flock of crows mobbing a large hawk. He went for his binoculars, but
when he returned moments later the hawk was gone, but something dark was
dropping from the sky. It turned out to be a part of a pine bough. It seems
that the hawk was possibly carrying the branch and dropped it, probably due
to the harrassment of the crows. This fellow is a beginning birder, and
wasn't sure of the species of the hawk, but both Red-shouldered and
Red-tails have been observed within the last few days hanging out in the
area and are known to nest there. Since he called it a large hawk the
chances are pretty good that it was one of the previously observed
Red-tails.

Would either of these species be carrying nesting material this early in the
season? According to Roger Clapp's book, Egg Dates for Virginia Birds, the
earliest record of a nest with eggs for either of the above species within
VA is March 8. The early nesting Red-shouldered had 3 eggs in its nest on
that date, and the early nesting Red-tail had 2.

According to the National Audubon Society's Encyclopedia of North American
Birds, the Red-tail has been observed with eggs in February (place and exact
date not given), and Red-shouldered Hawks are on their nesting grounds as
early as February or March.

In Dr. Fred Alsop's book, Birds of North America, he relates that both of
these raptor species use "coniferous needles" or "sprigs of evergreen" in
their respective nest building?
He also states that Red-shoulders incubate their eggs for 28 days and
Red-tails for 28-35 days.
So it would seem that it is entirely within the realm of possibility to find
nest building by these two hawk species at this time of the year. On the
other hand I could be wrong :)

Taking a different approach could the crows have been carrying the branch?
Again, according to Mr. Clapp, the early egg date for the American Crow in
VA is March 18.

Of course in looking at all possibilities there is always the very slim
chance that a piece of a pine branch got caught on the tail of a commercial
airliner during a heavy windstorm, and the branch just happened to dislodge
and fall to earth at just the right time in the right location. Yeah, Sure!

All kidding aside I would welcome any related comments. In any case it makes
for a good story.

Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA

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