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Woodland Park Zoo Wildlife Conservation

Conservation Projects Washington State

Raptor Ecology
         of the Shrub-Steppe

The FerrugCam is a cooperative project between Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), and Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ), supported by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Dept. of Energy (DOE). During the spring of 2004, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife installed a camera at a ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) nest site in eastern Washington. Special thanks to Richard McCarthy, John Worden, and Cyrus Reed at LIGO Hanford Observatory from California Institute of Technology, and Bill Erickson, Toby Cossairt, Brent Thompson, and Jacob Henning from BPA, who all enabled the 2009 transmission.

2005 Video Clips 2005 Photos 2004 Slideshow Raptor Ecology

2009 "Hawk/Raven" Cam: click here to view
A survey along the power line in April 2009 found no nesting pairs of ferruginous hawk; only a single male. In their absence common ravens have claimed the platform. Ravens often nest in treeless areas using cliffs and man-made structures, as do the ferruginous hawks. Washington Department of Wildlife biologists speculate that the decline in ferruginous hawk numbers in 2009 could be a one year aberration, but it also fits the gradual decline in nesting activity they've observed in the Columbia Basin the past 10 years.


Photo Courtesy of:
Laura Erickson
www.lauraerickson.com

Why have a nest camera?
To help biologists understand this threatened species by:

  • Learning what prey the hawks are eating
  • Examining why some nests fail
  • Determining how often adults are at nest
  • Discovering why some chicks don’t survive

Video Clips of 2005 Fledglings:
The two young hawks fledged from the nest on June 25 and 26, 2005.  They had hatched on May 8 and 11, 2005.


"Prey Delivery"
May 25, 2005
Benton County, WA

Dad delivers a small snake to Mom. Neither of the youngsters appears interested. During the upcoming season they will eat quite a bit of snake meat!

Click to play


"Snake"
May 28, 2005
Benton County, WA

Mom returns from hunting carrying a snake. When one fledgling is puzzled by the serpent, Mom assists and starts feeding the second youngster.

Click to play 


" Grooming"
May 30, 2005
Benton County, WA

Mom is preening her feathers when one of the fledglings moves up to her and solicits similar attention. At three weeks of age, the chick only can present down to scratch!

Click to play


"Flying Mouse"
May 30, 2005
Benton County, WA

Mom starts calling when Dad arrives overhead. He delivers a mouse, which is quickly devoured by one of the youngsters.

Click to play


"Big Snake"
May 30, 2005
Benton County, WA

Mom can be seen calling as she spots Dad returning overhead with food. It’s a big Gopher Snake! Dad delivers, but the fledglings need help from Mom turning it into a meal.

Click to play 


"Lotsa Food"
June 16, 2005
Benton County, WA

Mom returns with a rodent and a battle ensues between the youngsters. One juvenile wins and mantles (protects) the food. Dad arrives in time with a second mouse for the other youngster.

Click to play


"Exercise"
June 16, 2005
Benton County, WA

Both youngsters are exercising. They will fledge from the nest in another 9 days. The vigorous flapping strengthens their muscles.

Click to play


"Food Fight"
June 17, 2005
Benton County, WA

The youngsters are begging for food (note their calling). A parent delivers a mouse and each juvenile grabs an end. With all the scuffling it’s not clear who ends up eating!

Click to play 


"Squabble"
June 22, 2005
Benton County, WA

Mom drops the food as she approaches. The juveniles squabble, and only one gets fed with this delivery.

Click to play


"Getting Ready"
June 22, 2005
Benton County, WA

All grown up and ready to fledge. One juvenile is jumping and flapping. They will go out in the next few days.

Click to play


"Pre-flight"
June 22, 2005
Benton County, WA

Jumping up and down and kiting in the wind above the nest makes the young hawks ready for their maiden voyage out of the nest which will occur on 6/25!

Click to play

Photos of 2005 Fledglings:

Feeding



(click to enlarge)
Adult at Nest



(click to enlarge)

Female Fledgling
(click to enlarge)

Male Fledgling
(click to enlarge)

View a slideshow of highlights from the 2004 nesting season
 
Learn more about the Ferruginous Hawk Project and other raptors of shrub-steppe habitat by visiting the Raptor Ecology of the Shrub-Steppe section.

Project collaborators:

  • Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Woodland Park Zoo
  • Bonneville Power Administration
  • US Department of Energy
  • Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratories
  • Thermosight Inc.

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