A Reminder of Springtime

From a family of Harris’s Hawks

I was driving around the desert west of the Tucson Mountains and saw a Harris’s Hawk on a distant saguaro. My friend and I got out of the car and watched it. It was too far away for photos but was worthy of attention. After about five minutes the hawk took off, circling around us at a distance of 50-70 yards. It passed by an edge of the Tucson Mountains before landing in a large saguaro.

The saguaro that it landed in was also a long distance away, but we could see a large nest in it and a second Harris’s Hawk. It seems like one Harris’s Hawk, likely the female, was already in the nest and the newly arrived Harris’s Hawk was likely her consort, which had been watching from across the desert.

Soon after the second hawk arrived, the larger Harris’s Hawk, the female, flew from the nest and landed atop a nearby saguaro. Her partner followed her and caught up with her on the saguaro. Harris’s hawks mate frequently during breeding season. Mating continues throughout this courtship and even after incubation of eggs.

Both hawks then flew off. We drove away but returned to the nest area a half hour later. One of the Harris’s Hawks was perched on a different nearby saguaro.

Soon. this hawk became airborne. It was a windy afternoon and the bird whipped through the air to the south where it began circling. Another hawk rose in the air to meet it and they both flew into the distance.

I hope I will be able to follow this and other raptor families during this breeding season. If you know of any good sites for me to check out, please send me a private message. Thanks.