community.kjrh.com

Russell, I'm interested in what others think, as well... I just got through studying those two photos, as well as the archive of Kay and Jay. First, I think those two pictures are of the same red-tailed hawk. And, I may be quite wrong, but I think it's a completely different red-tailed hawk from our Kay and Jay. The head is lighter in color than Kay's, and the eyebrows are not the distinctive thick white ones of Jay. As well, there is something different to me in the patterning of the dark mottling on the front from either Kay or Jay's. Of course, the quality of the photography is different from KJRH's videos.... The lighting, too is quite different...so who knows? Was this hawk 1 and a half miles away from the station? ... or was it very close by? Maybe it was from a neighboring rth territory, though I've read they can overlap. Anyway, those pictures are gorgeous, and it is a very exquisite hawk! Thanks to whoever took those pictures. And where is the video?...

The lady's name is on the post in the Critters photo album. She mentioned video, but didn't send it...

And I concur, I don't think it's Kay or Jay.

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(8-{)
Russell Mills
Online Content Director
KJRH-TV Channel 2
PO Box 2 Tulsa, OK 74101
(918) 748-1560

The FIRST and ONLY station in Oklahoma to broadcast local news in HD!

Beautiful as that hawk is, I don't think it is Kay or Jay either.  Check out the pics on page 2 of this thread of the ones I posted there from the Critter pics. Notice the chests of both of them are very light in color, as well as the other differences already mentioned. http://community.kjrh.com/forums/2/3038187/ShowThread.aspx

Not sure why link isn't showing up right, it shows blue before I post it, but not after, hmmmm.

Oh my gosh! I can't believe I just got to this link. The photos are absolutely wonderful, thank you so much to everyone. There are so many little twists, turns and "links" to this story, I can't keep up! Some excellent information also, that would be nice to copy to the observation thread. I'm feeling overwhelmed...

I did a screen capture from the video that Russell posted on the main Hawk Nest page (upper righthand corner) of Thunder looking right into the camera.  I usually edit just the pic, but I wanted you to know which video I got it from.

I have been almost literally tied up with work but stole a moment to catch up on the posts. I agree that the photos on the Critter Page are neither Kay nor Jay, but I also note that they were taken in June of last year, and that it has a rufous ***, which means it is a newly fledged juvenile. Now I am going way way out on a limb here, speculating, with very little in the way of expertise (but a lot of imagination) to support it, but since Kay and Jay started a nest last year on the tower, but did not raise young in it, and Donna has told us that RTHs often will make a few nest sites before choosing one to actually lay their eggs and raise their family, perhaps (underline exclamation point) this hawk was last year's fledgling from the unknown site of last year's nest by Kay and Jay. Which would make it, what? a full sibling to Thunder? Urban RTHs have a (measured in NYC) territory as small as 1/4 square mile. Rural RTHs have a 3 sq mile territory and if it was Kay and Jay's baby from last year, it would make sense that their fledgling from last year would still be in their territory, just like this June, now, Thunder remains in Jay and Kay's territory. Just a wild guess, but interesting to contemplate! :-)

Yikes. I forgot I can't use br777ast. Well, you get the picture. Maybe bib would work better for the censoring software? (grin)

tripsqkr:

I did a screen capture from the video that Russell posted on the main Hawk Nest page (upper righthand corner) of Thunder looking right into the camera.  I usually edit just the pic, but I wanted you to know which video I got it from.

 

That is just adorable!! You can't get a better pic than that!

 

Russell your videos are spectacular! Thank you so very much for your time! I have really enjoyed them

I did a screen capture of the google map. This might give you a better idea of how far it is from the station to the river. Here is the link to the pic below so that you can move around to get a better idea of the relationship to the station camera shots as well.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3701+S+Peoria,+Tulsa,+OK&sll=37.020098,-96.855469&sspn=68.054114,108.984375&ie=UTF8&ll=36.11023,-95.980146&spn=0.008685,0.013304&t=h&z=16

Chinook's photos: She wrote:

 

I wanted to show how very high up Thunder was, and calling, and also the mockingbird (a favorite of mine) after Kay (I'm pretty sure it is her).  

 

Her back looked kind of ruffled up, or rumpled.  I wondered if she was "got" by too many little birds. I know they made physical contact. You should have seen her swoop down the center of the street

so low tailed by the little varmints!

 

Kay was so calm there above the sidewalk, truly an urban girl.  I hesitated to look up as I walked right beneath her, just in case she chose to "gift" me.  The last photo shows Thunder moved down the

tower some.  This is when I saw Jay flying low to the East over the neighborhood, chased by little birdies, and midway between where Kay and Thunder were perched.  Kay stayed perched there over 30 minutes I was there.

Chinook: I tried not to duplicate similar ones but I think I forgot the mockingbird one. If I did, e-mail it by itself to me again and I will post it.

Catgirl: Here is the second try on loading your photos. I saw the post by Russell that neither yours, nor chinook's nor bobdmac (video screen shots) loaded.

 

Here is the text from catgirl's photos:

 

Thunder either right before or right after drops meal down the middle of the rings!!  (can't tell if dark prey still in her talons in first 2 pics, or if just peering down at dropped prey)

 

Thunder flying/hopping over on antenna to let parent know about lost dinner, parent flying off, Thunder waiting/trying to decide what to do about dinner next.

 

Thunder and parent, couple of Thunder eating, and view from different angle of both hawks.

 

Picture is of Thunder (on ring next to antenna) and parent (on antenna) on the KJRH tower Friday evening 5:58pm.

 

Here are 3 photos I took this evening at 41st and Peoria at the Mazzio's/cellphone tower, Tulsa.  I assume by the size that it is Thunder and I could see another hawk circling to the west.

 

Thunder hopped back to rings and peers down and around from different vantage points, checking out where dinner landed and looking around to see if any parent coming to help.

 

Thunder then hopping off the ring and floating down (like a parachute!!! oh my was that ever impressive) to land on the roof.  I then only caught a few glimpses of head and wing. 

Last photo is 45 minutes later of Thunder (I am just assuming) sitting on some low antennas on roof of KJRH.  Then she flew off and I lost sight of the hawks.

 

Unfortunately because of the distance (height of the towers), the pictures are not of the quality I got of the juvenile hawk in my backyard last June - oh my, was that ever a treat to be 10-20 feet away!!

 

Since the photos and the e-mail text are not together, catgirl, you may want to add some footnotes. These are STUNNING photos. We need to chip in and get you a camera with a longer /zoom lens!

Chinook,

Here is another try to get your photos up. Catgirl's loaded so I am optimistic!

 

Here is the text from the e-mails that accompanied the photos. Chinook, you may want to add some notes to further describe the shots as, of course, the photos and the e-mails are not together any more.

 

I wanted to show how very high up Thunder was, and

calling, and also the mockingbird (a favorite of mine) after Kay (I'm

pretty sure it is her).  

 

Her back looked kind of ruffled up, or rumpled.  I wondered if she

was "got" by too many little birds. I know they made physical

contact. You should have seen her swoop down the center of the street

so low tailed by the little varmints!

 

Kay was so calm there above the sidewalk, truly an urban girl.  I

hesitated to look up as I walked right beneath her, just in case she

chose to "gift" me.  the last photo shows Thunder moved down the

tower some.  This is when I saw Jay flying low to the East over the

neighborhood, chased by little birdies, and midway between where Kay

and Thunder were perched.  Kay stayed perched there over 30 minutes

I was there.

 

Maybe you and catgirl (and any other folks from the forum in Tulsa who are photographing and following the KJRH hawk family), can speak with Russell about giving you your own blog (like Donegal's palemale irregulars, sort of), where you can post sightings and photos and news?

 

I enlarged your photos so more detail would show, so they look a little odd around the edges of the images. It did help though.

Catbird, thanks a million! I appreciate your getting the photos posted. Catgirl, maybe I'll see you down there, I don't get out much ..... but will try each saturday after the market. I love your photo of the two with their wings spread!

Amazing photos! Both of you did an exceptional job. I dabble with photography and know how difficult it can be getting those good shots of birds. And, you both nailed it! Thank you for sharing them with us.

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The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

Just WOW! Great photo's.  Thanks for sharing.