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At 1:30 PM, hawklets alone in nest.
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By 1:37 parent had arrived and was feeding hawklets from 3.

About 1:40 the other parent arrived from 9, sat on ledge at 9, then hopped over rail toward 6 and walked down ledge toward 6 and out of view of cam.  Parent doing the feeding moves around to 6 behind rail with tail entended over rail.  I think feeding continues but is being obscured by parent's body.

1:54 - Parent steps on ledge at 9 and flies toward 9 leaving hawlets alone.

2:01 PM - Parent had returned, apparently with a larger evergreen branch, which he/she is trying to arrange in nest.

2:05 - Parent drops branch at 2 and begins grooming (perhaps) hawklets.

2:10 - Parent flies from 3.

Perhaps because of the zoomed out view from the cam today there appear to be reflections from the vertical plastic walls at the 11-2 end of nest. (signs of mutes (fecal matter) can be seen on some of these panels).

Also there are signs on the larger (almost certain female hawklet) of the second buff coat of down growing in and some pin fearhers appearing a dark spots on parts of the body.

14:00 F brings greenery on stick to nest and struggles to place it. She does so with almost no regard for hawklets.

14:09 F flies toward 3

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If you continue to think the way you've always thought then you will continue to get what you've always got, is that enough?

14:22  M arrives from 9 with young field mouse, drops at 9 by head of older hawklet 

14:25  Adult (F ? has very slightly frayed rectrice to the left of deck feathers) lands from 7 to perch on top rail at 6

14:38  F still on rail at 6 doing lots of preening

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If you continue to think the way you've always thought then you will continue to get what you've always got, is that enough?

4:01 PM - Parent at 3 feeding hawklet.

4:13 PM - I think hawklet that has been eating just defecated.

4:15 - Parent hops on rail at 4 and sits there; head not visible.

4:27 - Parent still sitting on rail.

7:37 PM - Parent sitting on rail at 6 facing 12.

7:40 - Parent in nest rearranging new evergreen branch without regard for hawklets

7:42 - Partially settles over hawklets facing 7; seems to be preening one of them.

8:00 PM - Parent  at 3; larger hawklet defecates.

8:02 - Parent walks counterclockwise around nest to 7 and settles over hawklets facing 3.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 69. Windy, with a south wind 16 to 19 mph increasing to between 29 and 32 mph. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Breezy, with a south wind 25 to 28 mph decreasing to between 17 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.

08:15  F perched on ledge at 9

08:20  F brooding facing 5

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If you continue to think the way you've always thought then you will continue to get what you've always got, is that enough?

09:00-09:09

Hawklits alone in nest.  Can only really see one well, but both are there.  One  hawklet facing 9:00 making sounds and appears to peck at the new green material in the nest .  Looking about.  Settling down.

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'Security—does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.' Helen Keller

9:35am - Female adding large twig to nest.  She is stepping all over the babies, she seems to have no regard for their safety or, for that matter, she doesn't seem to even see them.  Nature is surely strange.  She can sit all night in a raging storm protecting her eggs or babies but she seems oblivious to their existance at other times.  I am worried about the smallest (maybe male) baby, he seems weak.

08:45  M arrives from 9 with greenery stick, drops and leaves

09:28  F at 9 ledge preening, lifting right toes

09:34 jumps to nest and rearranges some nesting material, broods facing 6

09:40 pivots to brood facing 5

 

Note: many raptors seem almost compulsive about nest building and maintenance.

To avoid people panicking about the welfare of either hawklet, I believe the smaller is just fine. Even at this age a hawklet can go at least a day without food. It is not always possible to see how much each hawklet is actually getting fed. If you can observe the throat area at times during the day you will often see a bulge (a full crop).

Other factors to consider: if the hawklets are as I suggest a F (older) and M (younger) they will eat relative to their size. Also being first hatched the older will be stronger and more aggressive about being fed. The adults will support this BUT in some cases make minor efforts to intervene if the aggression is too great. However, the younger hawklet also effects the level of aggression. If that hawklet doesn't submit to the older, dominant eyas then the level of aggression can escalate to the point of fratricide or siblicide (death of nest mate). This is a phase in the hawklet's lives (other raptors display this behavior as well but death is not common if there is adequate prey) and subsides greatly after the first few weeks.

From my experience I believe both hawklets are fine, the adults are providing for their needs and they are developing normally based on gender differences.

During the observations of this Redtail family you will occasionally view the birds standing on one set of toes (birds don't stand on their feet unless "laying down", incubating or brooding). This is done to allow for some rest of that leg's parts or to bring the non-feathered portion of the leg (tarsus and toes in Redtails) up into the protection afforded by the body plumage.

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If you continue to think the way you've always thought then you will continue to get what you've always got, is that enough?

I really appreciate the insight given by Raptorman.  Thank you for taking the time to enlighten us.

I will offer my experience and knowledge when possible. I may be away for the next few mornings so hopefully others will offer their observations.

 

11:03  F arrives from 9, jumps to 3 side of nest then perches watching toward 3

11:21  F flies toward 3

11:50  F arrives from 9, moves greenery around, perches at 3 facing 3

12:11  M arrives from 9, both adults at nest, male leaves via 3

12:13  F clutches old prey item (bird) while perched at 3 on nest edge facing 3

13:09  F still perched facing 9, no food begging from hawklets

13:22  F feeding first older hawklet (normal) then younger from prey (bird carcass)

 

Tip: To help identify adults when feet and toes are visible but not head, the rear toe on female is almost the same diameter as foot (tarsus bone). Much thicker than males.

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If you continue to think the way you've always thought then you will continue to get what you've always got, is that enough?

14:25 Hawklets alone in nest resting

14:30 F flys in from 9 to left railing, looks at sleeping hawklets

14:32 F leaves to 3

14:58 F enters 9 has small mouse, jumps to 3 side railing. Tail to camers, can't tell what she is doing with the mouse. Both hawklets asleep. F appears to be eating the mouse herself.

15:10 F still on railing at 3, tail still to the camera. Her movements indicate she is tearing up the mouse. Hawklets still sleeping.

15:30 larger hawklet awake, moving around. F still on right railing now facing 5. Still can't see her head but it appears she is done tearing at the mouse.

15:35 F leaves via 4, larger hawklet lies down on topr of smaller.

15:41 F back from 9, perched on left railing looking at hawklets.

16:35 F on left railing facing 3. Hawklets are awake and alert and wanting dinner.  No dinner here. What to do??