{"id":56673,"date":"2019-03-17T06:08:17","date_gmt":"2019-03-17T12:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=56673"},"modified":"2024-11-22T04:21:13","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T10:21:13","slug":"nesting-red-tailed-hawks-plus-guidelines-on-photographing-nesting-birds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/03\/17\/nesting-red-tailed-hawks-plus-guidelines-on-photographing-nesting-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"Nesting Red-tailed Hawks – Plus Guidelines On Photographing Nesting Birds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nesting Red-tailed Hawks<\/h2>\n

\"RestfulRestful Red-tailed Hawk female – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week when I photographed this stunning rufous Red-tailed Hawk I saw no signs of her mate or nesting but yesterday I found her again and at first she was alone and perched on a leaning wooden post. After pointing her out, I began to take images of her.<\/p>\n

She was lit up by the early morning light with sagebrush and rabbitbrush in the background.<\/p>\n

\"FemaleFemale Red-tailed Hawk before lifting off from a wooden perch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The rufous colored Red-tailed Hawk seemed to glow in the light, everything about her is striking.<\/p>\n

Side note<\/em>: This Red-tailed Hawk has light colored eyes, she had the same color eyes last year when she nested. This Red-tailed Hawk is definitely an adult but she has lighter colored eyes than most adults I photograph.<\/p>\n

\"Red-tailedRed-tailed Hawk female on a lichen covered cliff face – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

The female Red-tailed Hawk seemed to be warming up in the morning sun and I don’t think she could have looked more gorgeous than when she rested on this lichen covered cliff face. She and the rocks on the cliff are so naturally colorful.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Red-tailed Hawk carrying nesting material in his bill – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I was delighted to find out that she does have a mate this year, a lighter colored male who was busy finding and delivering nesting materials to their nest.<\/p>\n

\"CloseClose up of a male Red-tailed Hawk in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

Her mate isn’t as vibrantly colored as she is yet he is still a striking and beautiful hawk. He flew past at close range at one point and I couldn’t fit all of him into the viewfinder.<\/p>\n

It didn’t matter to me, I love this close up of him with the well lit cliff face behind him as he circled and then flew towards the female who was perched high up the hillside on a boulder.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Red-tailed Hawk after lifting off from a cliff – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

I did take photos of both the male and the female working on the nest but I am withholding those images to protect the location and their nest. If I seem a little vague when writing about these nesting Red-tailed Hawks that is being done purposely.<\/p>\n

Please don’t ask me where this nest is. I don\u2019t divulge nest locations, especially owl or raptor nests, unless they are well known which this nest isn\u2019t. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t announce a nest locations publicly anyway because unfortunately there are unethical people who might harass these hawks by approaching too close, by staying too long at the nest, or by being at the nest too often. The hawks could abandon the nest before they lay eggs or abandon the eggs after they are laid.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Guidelines On Photographing Nesting Birds:<\/h2>\n