Expert: Roger Lederer - 8/22/2006

Question
Thank you for the response.  Can you tell me if it is a hawk - will they return to this nest each year? and will I see the babies flying around or do they hatch and leave?  Donna
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Followup To

Question -
I have recently moved from Central California to Bella Vista, Arkansas.  The backyard is very forested.  In one of the trees we noticed in May a bird nest was in a tree about 50 ft. up (top of tree line).  The nest is about 2 feet in diameter.  A large bird has been seen in the area - wing span about the width of a car, too fast to see anything more than brown.  There were noises that popped up like young birds around 4 July - I have not seen any birds in the nest but the adult bird keeps track of me when I walk down that direction.  I'm not sure what other information I can give you that would be helpful. I have pictures of the nest but I'm not sure how to  attach them.

Answer -
It's hard to tell but I suspect it is a hawk of some kind - perhaps a Red-tailed or Red-shouldered Hawk, but I can't say from your description. Any description of the adult bird would be helpful. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

Answer
If it is a hawk, they might use the same nest each year, but that's not for sure. Once the babies leave the nest they might hang around for a couple of days or they might leave right away. No way to tell for sure - depends on habitat, weather, etc. Roger Lederer