Mina launching from the nest. I still have a hard time telling the two apart, but the most telling difference is, as with most raptors the female is nearly 1/3 larger than the male. This was also taken during the egg incubation period, when the female maintains the nest pretty much entirely by herself. - Lone Wolfe Photography- powered by SmugMug

This is an onrunning photo album of a Red-Tail Hawk couple residing at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Harbor City, California. I've taken the liberty of naming them Willie and Mina after Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm (aka "Willie") from the early 20th century. (Hey, if Central Park has Lola and Pale Male, why not?) It's an honor to have these hawks make the Kaiser campus their home and heartwarming to see the support and interest in them by so many of the hospital employees.

The camera I use is a Panasonic Lumix FZ20 with a 12x optical zoom (432mm) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). Many of the following pics, especially the ones of the babies, were taken in full digital zoom with a Canon TL-55 1.4x teleconverter added.

Red-Tail Hawk Vital Stats:

Weight: 2-4 lbs.
Length: 22"
Wing Span: 56 inches
Sexual Maturity: 3 years
Mating Season: Spring
Incubation: 28-32 days
No. of Eggs: 1-3
Birth Interval: year
Lifespan: 10-21 years
Typical diet: small rodents, snakes

---from Desert USA
website

< Prev 2 of 7 Next >

Mina launching from the nest. I still have a hard time telling the two apart, but the most telling difference is, as with most raptors the female is nearly 1/3 larger than the male. This was also taken during the egg incubation period, when the female maintains the nest pretty much entirely by herself.