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FLASHBACK COLUMN:
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Here in Minnesota, they nest sporadically throughout most of the state with the exception of the northeast corner. They nest in either pines or hardwood forests building their nests anywhere from ten to sixty feet up. They usually have between three and five eggs which are incubated almost entirely by the female. It takes about 24 days for the eggs to hatch and another 24 days for them to take their first flight. The young are shaped like the adults but are brown over the back while the breast and belly are white with brown streaking. When you get close to the nest, you can hear the very distinct cuck, cuck, cuck call of the adults while they defend their young. Some people don’t especially like the idea of having a hawk around their feeders, but they are important to the health of the wild and fortunately, a large number of the passerines nest a couple times a year.
Keep enjoying the birds, they each have a special story to be told.
Just another one of Warren's great articles from our September 2006 issue...
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