Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 17:07:12 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Emily Joyce Subject: nesting red-shoulder, suburban style MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit For several weeks I have been hearing a red-shouldered hawk calling every now and then. Until I actually saw the bird, I was attributing it to the local bluejays, of which we certainly have our share. This weekend I actually spotted the nest, about a block from my house in a tree whose roots are way down in a ravine and which extends up at least 80 feet (I don't guess these things very accurately, but this tree's crown is up with those of trees that start much higher up the hill). There are houses all around, but fortunately many of them have left some good-sized trees, and the ravine is not developed (yet). The closest house is probably no more than 100 feet away, but the inhabitants of that house have been quietly enjoying the nesting hawk (this year and last) and giving it space. The ravine probably drains rainwater into the Severn River, which is about 3 wing flaps away for the hawks. Thank goodness for the Atlas. All my other references gave no hint of this suburban "togetherness", but our wonderful Atlas does. The adult is hunkered down on the nest, indicating there is something under there, but even with the telescope (understanding neighbors agreed to its use) I couldn't tell numbers or ages. Just out of curiousity, is this running a bit late for that kind of thing for this species? Emily Joyce Crownsville ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================