Saw the pair of redtails again a couple of days ago in my oaks, and today the male is circling and calling (scree!) over the area where I believe the red shouldered hawks were nesting. Makes me wonder if the redtails chased the red shouldered hawks away and have stolen their nesting site. Though I think redtails prefer to build their own nests, I read that they aren’t against building atop the nests of other species if they like the site.A pair of red shouldered hawks have nested ~1/2 mile from me as the hawk flies for 3 years now. They’ve successfully raised two broods and clearly plan to try again this year. A pair of red tails flew into the area and the sky was full of hawks calling. The red shoulders don’t want the red tails in this area. When vocalizations didn’t do the trick, the male red shoulder took to diving on the red tails in flight. It was like WWI aerial combat! I haven’t seen or heard the red tails in awhile, but they must be close enough for the red shoulder male to be calling still. Love it! Now, bring me migrating barred owls! I want to hear their caterwauling at night!
Most Raptors will build on top of a current nest. We see this a lot with Eagles. But hopefully you have the red shoulders still there. I still have mine with the new mating red tailsSaw the pair of redtails again a couple of days ago in my oaks, and today the male is circling and calling (scree!) over the area where I believe the red shouldered hawks were nesting. Makes me wonder if the redtails chased the red shouldered hawks away and have stolen their nesting site. Though I think redtails prefer to build their own nests, I read that they aren’t against building atop the nests of other species if they like the site.
