community.kjrh.com

Thanks Cam.  Sad but still interesting; I wonder what will happen next?

Regarding fireworks, I've read several entries on sites that basically agree that though the noise might be a bit startling it doesn't seem to disturb the birds more than say a bad thunderstorm.  This is from the Portland Hawk nest web site: Bob Sallinger http://www.beloblog.com/KGW_Blogs/raptorcam/2009/07/july-7-2009-update.html

There were some questions about birds and fireworks--specifically whether fireworks disturb nesting birds. The answer really varies from case to case and species to species. Most birds find a spot to roost at night and then stay put regardless of what is happening around them. Birds are at a huge disadvantage to nocturnal predators such as coyotes and great horned owls. If they start moving or flying about they make themselves all the more visible. Generally they roost in places that reduce their silhouette such as up against a structure or the trunk of a tree. They may be a little stressed by the explosions, but generally they are just going to hang tight and wait it out. It is hard to say how differently a bird might perceive fireworks from say thunder and lightening. We do occasionally see nestlings jump prematurely during firework displays. This my be a "startle effect." I don't tend to worry too much about fireworks on urban landscapes ---primarily I worry when the fireworks are either very close to a designated natural area or in close proximity to imperiled species. Several years ago I got to monitor the peregrines that nest in the Interstate Bridge to determine whether they were disturbed by the massive Vancouver fireworks display. The birds showed no discernable response but we did get to watch a good show.

 

Following will be a few photos and updates of the other pairs of RedTail hawks that are neighbors of Kay and Jays.

Immediately to their east are the 36thLewis RTs.  I have seen one or both parents alot the past month on one particular cell phone tower.  Last week when they were perched on it, I could hear their juvie calling from nearby trees but could not locate it, as that area is full of construction equipment and an electrical substation.

A couple of evenings ago (7/11/09) I was driving by and heard the juvie - and was able to spot it perched in a tree near the street.

The next family group to the east is the RanchAcres RTs.  They did have 2 juvies in the nest but I have not been able to spot either of them since I took this photo of one of the juvies on June 11th.

I believe workaholic has since reported seeing one of the adults on their favorite cellular tower perch.

To the south of the RanchAcres RTs are the Langenheim group.

Yes, Apollo and Artemis sound appropriate for this new pair of juvies.  Thanks for the names - now we just have to figure out who is who!!!!

A couple of additional photos of them on Wednesday, July 8th as some morning thunderstorms started up.  The first one was perched quietly on a ulitlity pole (no feathered fiends flocking around her!) while the other one was being pursued from pole to pole by a whole mob of various iritated birds.  As I headed to my car as the rain began falling harder, the second one perched on a pole closer to the first one - hoping for some protection from its sibling?!

To the Langenheims west, and immediately to Kay and Jays south are the 51st&Peoria RTs.  Unfortunately, I do not have anything much to report about them.  In April, I could see that they had at least one juvenile in the nest.  In late May, a few times I caught glimpses of one of the adults and possibly their juvie circling in the area.  Since then, every now and then I see one of the adults circle by the area but otherwise I have not seen any of them in their fall/winter perching/hunting areas.

 

And lastly, the most depressing story - worse than Kay and Jay's as far as I am concerned.  However, it is still all speculation on my part, I have not been able to get confirmation from the authorities.  But here is the story -   The Billboard RT's -  who reside to Kay and Jay's south and slightly west across the river.  A close-up of the field that was bull-dozed week of May 18th.  I believe that it contained an active nest so I contacted the authorities.

I have not been able to get any more information - just what I can see and speculate from that.  As soon as I contacted the authorities, all work on the acreage stopped.  The next day work resumed on the north half - more bulldozing and leveling.  However the south end where I believe the nest to be was left alone - except for the fact that all the trees have been knocked down.

I went by almost every day to check on the status of the redtails and the field.  The parents spent ALOT of time perched on the billboard, watching the field, calling out, flying low over where the nesting tree had been.

At the end of June into first week of July - the work resumed and I have not seen the adult RTs since the day it resumed and the field was cleared.  As the clearing work at that end of the field is 5-6 weeks behind the work on the north end, they even had up bright lights to work longer into the night.

 

A few other photos and information at my flickr site - www.flickr.com/photos/cheryls_camera  - each of the different hawk groups have their own set (in my Tulsa Urban Hawks collection)

Depressing and heartbreaking, indeed, Catgirl. Who could see those photos and not be saddened, touched and outraged? Well, there do appear to be folks who are unconcerned. The authorities have not gotten back to you, then? Or did you contact them again, and they had no comment or reply? Had they initially indicated they would let you know the outcome of their "investigation?"

That photo on your Flickr site of the hawk on the pole, overlooking the destruction, says it all. If others of you haven't seen it, please do look in.

Now they're gone, and we are sick at heart. Is there anyone to whom we can express these feelings, that is, someone who cares?

Thank you, Catgirl, for your diligent documentation, and for the initiative you took in contacting authorities. You, we--and the Billboard Hawks--deserve some answers.

Any suggestions, Forum Friends?
 

Audubon, USFW, OK fish and wildlife. But don't expect a fervent respones...

The story of the billboard hawks really saddened me, and made me angry. If I were a well-written person (which I am not), I would probably write a letter to the editor of the Tulsa World ("The Peoples Voice" on Sundays) and include pictures, as well as cite the laws that they violated when they destroyed the nest! Outrageous! Or maybe as a group we could send a letter!

Catgirl, the other photos are spectacular! Thank you for taking the time to keep up with our beloved Red Tails.

---

live well --- laugh often --- love much

If there was a picture of the nest and proof it was active the Feds should have at least investigated and fined the company, asuming of course that they did not get permissio to remove the nest

 

sallyls:

If there was a picture of the nest and proof it was active the Feds should have at least investigated and fined the company, asuming of course that they did not get permissio to remove the nest

 

Thanks everyone for all your comments and suggestions. 

I posted a little bit about this back when it happened.  I did contact Oklahoma Wildlife and they had me email them the pictures I had of the nest and the billboard RTs, and they indicated they had or were in the process of contacting the federal authorities.  I also emailed them again a week later asking for an update - but have never heard anything back.  I also contacted a couple of news outlets to see if they were interested but never heard anything back from them either (including KJRH). 

Considering the hawk forums previous attempts to contact the local audubon society about Kay and Jay, I did not try them.

I doubt they -whoever was in charge of the demolition - could have gotten permission to remove the nest right at the time all the area nests were producing fledglings.  Well, maybe so - this is Oklahoma after all which is not known for its education about federal protection of raptors (someone recently mentioned to me that we have the highest incidence of raptors brought in for gunshot wounds or killed by same).

I can only assume that it was investigated - considering the abrupt halt to work on the field, and that the end of the field containing the nest was not touched again for 5-6 weeks while the other areas were actively worked on during that time.  I periodically drive by the area hoping to see some type of sign that tells who or what the area is being worked on for - my internet searches for real estate sold, commercial building permits issued, or violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act have come up with zilch for that area.

Yesterday evening I saw one of the Langenheim juvies on a utility pole a block or two east of the SpiritBank bldg, calling out for dinner.

This morning I went back by there and there was a juvie again on the same pole.  While I was distracted by the little duck family in the creek the juvie flew off.  I wandered on and then spotted it again on a utility pole along the creek immediately behind the SpiritBank bldg.  I parked, got my camera ready and stepped out of the car - and it was gone.  I took another step to look around - and it flew up from the ground at the right front of my car and flew about 20 feet away onto a guardrail of the parking lot alongside the edge of Joe Creek.

My guess is that it is Artemis - ankles look thick and the birds don't bother her!

She then flew across the creek then back again -

She flew a bit further north along the creek - stopping for a minute or two to eat a breakfast snack...she momentarily thought she was a robin.....before assuming more hawklike behavior and perching on another parking lot guardrail  along the creek bank.  She then stopped for a few seconds in the grassy bank of the creek before flying off into the trees along the east side of Joe Creek.

A few more photos at my flickr site - www.flickr.com/photos/cheryls_camera

 

Spectacular in-flight shot catgirl!

I find this summer I am drawn repeatedly back to Langenheim Park to look for the juvies.  Last summer I visited them a few times but I was usually busy tracking Thunder, Kay and Jay down and kcaction provided us with regular spectacular photos of the 2008 Langenheim Twins.

This morning I found myself back at Langenheim Park, eating my chocolate croissant (delicious - though even better fresh saturday morning from the farmers market!) and sipping water, listening for the hungry calls of the juvies.  As I finished my breakfast  I can hear one calling from somewhere at the south end of the park.  I take a walk in that direction and as I about get to the south end, the juvie comes flying towards me and then swoops west over the park, stoppping on a utility pole at the west side.  She waited until I caught up then continued on west to a building across the street, where one of the adults was perched.  She called out repeatedly and the adult flew off to the top of a nearby utility pole.  As I was looking into the sun, I decided to loop around a building to the north to try to come up with a better vantage spot with the sun behind me.  As I was circling around (took 1 1/2 minutes), I could hear the juvie calling out repeatedly and then one really loud shriek.  As I came around the corner, the adult was now on some utility lines over the street and the juvie was in the residential street....
 

The juvie worked on subduing its rodent feast for a bit - more photos (actually, quite a few!!!) at my flickr site - www.flcikr.com/photos/cheryls_camera

I am not sure if the juvie caught the rat itself or if in that 90 seconds I was out of view the adult swooped down, caught it and met Artemis (I am just assuming, seems to be the same juvie the last 3 days) in the street with it and gave it to her (the shriek I heard - her pouncing?!)  - sounds plausible.
After about 6 minutes, a car finally turned in and Artemis flew off to the east back to the park.

I also returned to the park and could still hear Artemis calling out as she dealt with her meal.  I walked in the general direction of the calls and then heard one different sounding hawk call from a nearby tree - made me think it was the equivalent of the parent saying "Shh, she's coming, be quiet".  I turned towards that tree and then the rodent fell out of the tree and the juvie flew down to pounce on it once again.

After another minute or so, she flew off to the east side of the park with her breakfast to some trees along Joe Creek.  I did not follow in hopes she could continue the best part of her meal without my click click click interference.

Great Shots Catgirl.  I heard the calling this morning and popped out of the apartment just in time to see you headed past the baseball backstop heading towards the north end of the park.    You are way better at tracking where the sounds are coming from.  I try, but until they start flying about, I usually cannot locate them.  As you were on your mission, I didn't want to distrub.  Great Great Pics