I will follow-up on the vultures when the right birds are available to photograph. As for now, this baby broad winged hawk is in a hurry to grow up.

The downy image is a bird with a "basket nest", taken on July 7.  The next two photos are from July 16, 9 day later.  It will not be long till this bird will be ready to be released.  In the meantime, It must grow and learn to hunt.

 

These are smaller than red shouldered hawks which are smaller than red tailed hawks. Though classified a buteo for the "soaring" hawks, the Broad Winged will hunt from the forest canopy and swoop down to catch a dinner of rodents, small mammals, etc.  When fall arrives, this bird must be ready to migrate south, meaning northern South America and a flight of perhaps 2500 miles.  This species joins others of its kind for migration and will be seen in large groups making the flight together.  They will spend the northern hemisphere winter period in the tropical forests.  When that is done, they come north to breed.

 

The birds must breed and chicks have to grow up quickly to be ready for the migration.  This young one shows some of that quick growth.

Nine days later

Same as above, different view...beginning to look formidable.  Clicl zoom on photo and notice the tiny bits of downy feathers remaining.  

 

I will revisit the hawk next week and see what another 7 days of growth will do.

:-)  I don't have to zoom to see them. I am so familiar with bird growth patterns I know exactly where to look for the last bits of down.  This really is a small hawk. Compact and stocky. I thought the red tailed hawk was rather small! The information on their migration is really interesting.

Flannel Knight's Photos
MrsLubner
Forum Moderator
______________________
"It please me to take amateur photographs of my garden,
and it pleases my garden to make my photographs look
professional."
                                          Robert Brault

Wow Tom they grow up so quickly.

The eye will go  to brown tone as it matures.

Thank you for sharing these captures my friend. Time realy fly's by as can be seen how quickly these chicks grew up.

God Bless.

Very Interesting to see how fast they mature.  Beautiful bird and interesting info.

Last evening I got this photo from July 2,  5 days prior to my first picture. This is not my photo but was taken by the fine lady caring for the hawk at that time.  I post this to further emphasize the growth of the little broad winged hawk.

Once again thank you for sharing my friend.

God Bless.

OH! It's so adorable! I'd have a hard time keeping my hands off of it! Good thing I don't do bird rehab very often. :-)

Flannel Knight's Photos
MrsLubner
Forum Moderator
______________________
"It please me to take amateur photographs of my garden,
and it pleases my garden to make my photographs look
professional."
                                          Robert Brault

Two ordinary but essential supplies  are baskets and pine needles.  So many birds brought in are truly babies not ready to leave the nest but whose nest is gone. The right basket and  pine needles work well for many newbie raptors.   That explains this cutie's "home" while in special care at the home of Katie, a co-founder of the center.

PJ, I know exactly what you mean!   Tom