2304_0261 The Nesting Imperative
Spring has arrived, despite the 2 cm of snow that fell last night. The forecast says we'll be back into double digits before the weekend is done, and I'm gullible enough to believe it. And so, a brief set of images celebrating very early signs of spring on the northern prairie...
A Ferruginous Hawk flies by with nesting material in its bill. In the absence of trees across much of the prairie, birds have to improvise from available resources, including twigs from thickets and semi-woody plants from ditches. That said, they also find branches, often from the lone tree where they are settling. The nests of this species can be huge.
Once again light is reflecting off the snowy prairie, bouncing up to illuminate this hawk from below. I have to admit, I love the effect. It's like having a powerful flash for fill light on a bird flyby. I think I know where this hawk was going, btw; there is a big cottonwood tree not far from this spot that both Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawk families have occupied in recent years, although not at the same time. I leave them alone during nesting season. Ferruginous in particular are susceptible to disturbance.
Photographed in Rosefield, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2023 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2304_0261 The Nesting Imperative
Spring has arrived, despite the 2 cm of snow that fell last night. The forecast says we'll be back into double digits before the weekend is done, and I'm gullible enough to believe it. And so, a brief set of images celebrating very early signs of spring on the northern prairie...
A Ferruginous Hawk flies by with nesting material in its bill. In the absence of trees across much of the prairie, birds have to improvise from available resources, including twigs from thickets and semi-woody plants from ditches. That said, they also find branches, often from the lone tree where they are settling. The nests of this species can be huge.
Once again light is reflecting off the snowy prairie, bouncing up to illuminate this hawk from below. I have to admit, I love the effect. It's like having a powerful flash for fill light on a bird flyby. I think I know where this hawk was going, btw; there is a big cottonwood tree not far from this spot that both Ferruginous and Swainson's Hawk families have occupied in recent years, although not at the same time. I leave them alone during nesting season. Ferruginous in particular are susceptible to disturbance.
Photographed in Rosefield, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2023 James R. Page - all rights reserved.