Red-tailed Hawk lift off with nesting materialRed-tailed Hawk lift off with nesting material – Nikon D810, f8, 1/2500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I took this image about two weeks ago in northern Utah and I am hoping that the Red-tailed Hawks are about half way through incubating their eggs now. I haven’t been near the nest in almost two weeks because I don’t want to disturb nesting Red-tailed Hawks, or any other species for that matter. I hope that they will raise two or three chicks and increase the population of Red-tailed Hawks.

I am not sure why the Red-tailed Hawk lifted off with nesting material in its bill from the nest, maybe the hawk felt that piece of nesting material wasn’t suitable. I’ve seen ospreys do the same thing in Florida.

I liked the wing position of the hawk that shows the intricate patterns under the wing, the eye contact and the textures on the cliff wall behind the hawk.

I hope the hawks have been able to keep their eggs warm and dry the past few weeks given all of the rain that we have had here in northern Utah.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.