Here are a couple more pics of the same two Red-tailed hawk fledglings I put in a previous post. I am in close and constant consultation with a licensed falconer - I wouldn't be taking these pics if harm to the birds would result.

I have now taken pics one day a week for the last three weeks. It appears that the birds are now learning fear, as they weren't as comfortable with me being there as before. I suspect that I'll have to take pictures from farther away next week (I don't want one backing up over the edge of the nest). As you can see, one bird is obviously larger than the other.



Just before I got my safety strap hooked up (45' up - long way down), the larger bird had much of his dinner in his mouth. Before I was able to get my camera out he had spit it out.



Hard to believe that these are feathers!





These pics below are of the inside of an American Kestrel box I put up near my house. I had planned on putting it up earlier, but forgot. One day, I was driving down the road and saw a Kestrel on the wires. I built the box that night, put it up the next day, and really lucked out. The birds took to the house and now have a family on the way.

American Kestrels are used by some falconers to hunt very small mammals - they also feed on many large insects. My falconer friend told me today that one of the problems of hunting with a Kestrel is avoiding the wild Cooper's Hawks that will readily and easily kill a Kestrel if the opportunity presents itself.

Great Work! Thanks for sharing theses photos.