06/03/2026
Hawk watch is ON.
Every year we have the pleasure of seeing a pair of red-tailed hawks nest in the eucalyptus tree by the shack. We've been watching this year's babies get bigger and less fuzzy for the last several weeks!
Red-tailed hawks are one of the most common and recognizable raptors in North America, but seeing them up close like this never gets old.
Here are some hawk facts that tickle us:
**RTH pairs often return to the same nest year after year, adding sticks and material each season. These structures can eventually weigh hundreds of pounds. (how much do you think this one weighs?)
**Chicks hatch after about 28–35 days and take their first flights around 45–46 days old — but they stay close to the nest and depend on their parents for weeks afterward while they learn to hunt.
**Red-tails have eyesight roughly 8x sharper than ours. From a perch high in a tree, they can spot a mouse moving in the grass far below.
**Despite the name, juvenile red-tails don't actually have a red tail yet. That only develops after their first year. The kiddos in our tree are still fuzzy.
Next time you visit us at The Shack, bring a pair of nockers (binoculars for the non-birders out there) or borrow ours, for a chance to see them for yourself!
