The Progression of Young Raptors Continues
Great Horned Owls are generally the first baby raptors admitted to BMW in the spring, quickly followed by Western Screech Owls. Then come American Kestrels and Red-tailed Hawks. Now we are seeing young Cooper’s Hawks and Swainson’s Hawks. The first two Swainson’s Hawks were placed in a hack box this past week.
Admissions included three Cooper’s Hawks. one Red-tailed Hawk, one Swainson’s Hawk three American Kestrels, two Great Horned Owls and two Western Screech Owls. Non-raptors included three American Robins, one Bullocks Oriole and three Vaux’s Swifts. Swifts are designed to “perch” vertically. Vaux’s Swifts are primarily forest dwellers, nesting in hollow trees. Their nest is made of small sticks cemented together with saliva and attached to the inside surface of the tree. When snags are not available to nest in, they will nest in chimneys. They are very demanding (and vocal) babies!
