Updates on fledgling raptors in Boulder County

All three Cooper's hawk fledglings are flying and I even witnessed one make a kill on its own. Neither adult was present at the nest site this week, although, the fledglings are still being fed and cared for by their parents. Perhaps both adults are now hunting full time, rather than one remaining at the nest on guard duty.

Last week I made it out to Lagerman Reservoir to observe the fledgling Northern harriers trolling the cattail marshes and reservoir shoreline. The Northern harrier is one of Boulder County's most vulnerable raptors alongside the Peregrine falcon and the Ferruginous hawk. There have only been four successful nests documented in the county during the last 10 years and they have all been at Boulder Reservoir. Habitat destruction of marshy areas replete with tall grasses and cattails has contributed to this raptor's precipitous decline. These three (possibly four) healthy fledglings will contribute to a revitalization of the Northern harrier population in the county, provided that we implement and acknowledge management decisions to conserve this critical habitat. The first photo is a prey exchange between the male and a fledgling. The second photo is of one of the fledglings honing its low-hanging hovering skills, one of the quintessential characteristics distinguishing the harrier from other raptors.