This morning the hawklet is in the nest making quick business
of a small rodent probably dropped off for her by one of the adults.
She had her prey securely pinned to the ground with her talons as she bent her head down and used her razor sharp beak to tear off pieces of meat to swallow.
As we have read in all the posts and watched this hawklet grow, we have seen her go from a tiny ball of endearing white fluff being fed rather delicately by the adults.
With each days growth she has become more impatient, assertive, and some might say downright aggressive when
she has been offered food. She has snatched, pulled, and demanded food at times.
So it seems a very natural progression at this point for all parties involved, parents and child, to just drop the prey off and leave, perhaps to hunt again.
The hawklet must be requiring a radical increase in calories daily, as the fledgling flight is only days away. Reminds me of a teenage boy (if I may be anthropomorphic here) that has 2 hollow legs and never seems to get enough to eat.
I have disliked going to the webcam lately and not seeing it on the nest. When she fledges how many of us will experience the dreaded "empty nest syndrome?"
Oh, there is always next year -- so tell your schools, friends, and families to plan ahead!