Stoney Creek (Wintergreen) 6/10-11/12

All photos are © Marshall Faintich


June 10, 2011

I went out back late morning to check on the three Red-shouldered Hawk chicks, and there was only one of them in the nest. The other two had fledged! The remaining chick looked a bit lonely.


Red-shouldered Hawk chick

I checked on them again mid-afternoon, and the nest was empty. All of the chicks had fledged. I felt both happy and sad at the same time - happy that I had the opportunity to watch these chicks grow from little fuzzballs to juveniles, and sad that they were gone - would I ever see them again?


Red-shouldered Hawk empty nest

June 11, 2011

I returned from a hike at the Rockfish Valley Trail, and checked the nest - still empty. A little while later I saw a hawk fly to the nest. It was mama bringing some food, but none of the fledglings were there. Within a minute, one of the fledglings appeared on a nearby branch and mama left. It then started to rain, and I headed inside. I hope to see more of the hawks - no longer chicks - they are now juveniles.


Mama Red-shouldered Hawk


Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk



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