Day 2: Baby Red-tailed Hawk
Species: Red-tailed Hawk
Current status: Released
Number of days in care: 3 days
A Red-tailed Hawk nestling was admitted on April 29th after falling from its nest nearly 150 feet up in a Eucalyptus tree at the Santa Barbara Bowl. this bird and its sibling were blown out of their nest due to extremely high winds. Unfortunately, its sibling did not survive the fall. The surviving bird was mildly dehydrated, thin, and showed signs of head trauma. Once in care, the hawk received fluid therapy, medication, and heat support. RE-uniting plans were set in motion soon after intake.
The renest was quite an endeavor as the eucalyptus tree that this bird fell from was nearly 150 feet high. This is higher than many tree companies could reach even with specialized lifts, but one of our trusted partners, Branch Out Tree Care, came to the rescue. Branch Out Tree Care has very skilled arborists, two of which worked to climb multiple trees to renest this baby hawk.
On May 2nd, after 3 days in care and with a big audience, this patient was safely returned to its nest where it was reunited with its mother and father. This was an incredibly inspiring community effort.
Red-tailed Hawk Fun facts:
Although well-known to Indigenous peoples of North America long ago, Red-tailed Hawks were first officially documented by Western scientists in Jamaica in 1781 and given the name Buteo jamaicensis.
Red-tailed Hawks are North America's second-largest Buteo Hawk, after the Ferruginous Hawk, with soaring wingspans averaging over four feet. Females are notably larger than males.
The Red-tailed Hawk’s piercing, raspy scream perfectly captures the essence of a quintessential raptor. Listen here.
Red-tailed Hawk pairs are exceptional co-parents, working together to build nests from sticks and leafy branches, typically in trees but occasionally on cliffs or buildings. While the female primarily incubates their eggs for 28 to 35 days, the male hunts to support her. After the chicks hatch, this teamwork continues, with the male delivering prey and the female feeding it to their young in bite-sized pieces.
Male Red-tailed Hawks defend territories, often about two square miles, with piercing screeches during nesting season. However, in urban areas they adapt to close quarters, sometimes nesting just blocks apart.
Timelapse video of full Red-tailed Hawk renesting!