Cooper’s Hawks Fly The Nest

Cooper’s hawk at nest in early June, some of a chick’s down can be seen above the edge of the nest in front of the adult.

One of the perks of being a wildlife biologist is the opportunity to venture off the beaten path in support of projects. While doing surveys this year, Aspen’s biologists were fortunate to locate and monitor a Cooper’s hawk nest. First observed in early June, the chicks were so small that tufts of their white down feathers could barely be seen above the edge of the nest. As the chicks grew, their flight and body feathers could be seen coming in, and they became more adventurous perching at the edge of the nest. By mid-July, these fast-growing chicks fledged, and were no longer observed near the nest. Check out the photos to see how they grew.

Adult Cooper’s hawk feeding chicks in mid-June.

Chicks in the nest mid-late June.

Adult Cooper’s hawk watching over the nest from nearby in mid-late June.

Chicks growing body and flight feathers in late June.