I was treated to a pair mating this morning! Heard lots of calling and as I
approached the male flew up from the ground and right to the female, did his
thing, dismounted and sat near her for a short time, and flew off.
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <va-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Donald Sweig
Sent: Thursday, February 4, 2021 1:03 PM
To: va-bird <Va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Donald Sweig <skybear41@xxxxxxxxx>; Donald Sweig <skybirds.d@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [va-bird] Red-Shouldered Hawks at Fairview Park Lake
I stopped by Fairview Park Lake this morning to check on the waterfowl and
was treated to two Red-shouldered hawks engaged in what I think was mating
behavior.
Initially, I saw one of the hawks fly low across the ice and into a nearby
tree. A bit later the same bird flew out of that tree and into another group
of trees farther away where I could not see.
So, I drove over to have a better look and just as I arrived,TWO
Red-shoulders flew out of the trees and perched on two different trees near
where I was. Based on the sizes, one was a male and the other a female.
After a bit the male flew off, right over where I was, and soon after the
female flew off, right over me as well.
I did not see them actually copulate, but I suspect that is what they were
doing, as breeding season has begun for Eastern Red-shoulders (Buteo
lineatus,alleni).
In any event I found it all very interesting and fun, and such beautiful
raptors!
On the lake, I counted 12 Hooded Mergansers, spread out all over the lake,
3 Pied-billed Grebes, 4 Ring-billed Gulls, and about a dozen geese.
I also found a Great -lue heron in a tree, 6 Mourning doves in the trees,
and about 6-8 crows, flying around.
It was all a lot more than I expected to find.
--
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.
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