Goshawk nest in Riga 2020 - 2021

[Marbzy]

Even when the chicks were tiny, Lui would sometimes hand prey to Boka out of the nest. This makes me wonder if this might still be the case. Just a couple of days ago, Boka brought two dead chicks to the nest in the space of 21 minutes. She certainly is a skilful hunter herself, but I thought I'd ask if there is a chance Lui still keeps providing for the chicks without generally offering door-to-door delivery anymore.

Plus it's absolutely true that the chicks' progress here is just amazing...

[Polly]

May 28th

Good morning

The older chick button eye is 3 weeks old today.
I call it that because, unlike its younger sibling, it has button eyes.

Today...

[Polly]

I also think that feed deliveries take place outside the nest.
At home in the garden, I saw two birds of prey (falcons, sparrowhawks ... I couldn't see it) throwing up something in the air while flying. One dropped it and the other snapped it open. There was no aggression to be seen. No hunt. In fact, it seemed very well-rehearsed.
But I also wonder where Boka has moved her territory to? How far can Lui approach the nest?
Sometimes the chicks look up even though Boka is sitting on her branch ... can Lui sit in the nest tree? Boka is often hunting for 1 hour or more. Today she brought a big pigeon (I guess). Males rarely hunt large prey. Meanwhile, is Lui sitting nearby? Boka would not leave her young, defenseless chicks alone for so long. ?

Questions after questions ...

Let's just keep looking. A lot becomes clearer over time.

I hope that many observations will come together in the next few weeks. From all of us. Who is interested.

[Polly]

Boka obviously spent the night in the nest.


04:19 she starts the day ... first on her branch.
04:23 she flies down.

05:43 The chicks are still alone but they oversleep most of the time.

[Polly]

05:55 Boka returns to the nest. She brings a big bird with her. Looks like a pigeon?

A lively but disciplined feeding. Both chicks are well fed.
Little one pecked into the feed itself during feeding. He's done it that way before. More often than his older sibling. Apparently he doesn't get anything cut off, but he tries.

06:24
Almost everything is fed. The chicks become calmer and sluggish.

[Polly]

Button eye looks very relaxed ...



Much in, much out ...


06:34 Boka leaves the nest with the rest of the feed.

[Polly]

Goodbye Mom.


What he can do ...


...I can too


06:35 calls of a hawk.

[Polly]

06:35 Boka returns with the rest.
Both chicks each take a little while the other sits on the nesting edge. Boka throws chunks into the bowl. While she otherwise cleaned the nest meticulously, she leaves it as she jumps onto her branch at 06:45.

In the following period, Boka invested a lot of stubbornness in nest restoration and in plucking the birch trees. She fetches most of the branches from the nest tree. It's a come and go ....


And always guarded by Little one.

[Polly]

09:27
Boka diligently collected greenery but also worked new sticks in the nest.


10:20
The crows don't rest.

[Polly]

For the first few weeks, the females only hunt near the nest. I think Boka will be betrayed by the crows when she raids there. Crows are very treacherous. If a bird of prey is found, there is suddenly a huge flock of crows.

11:16 she brings another larger bird. Boka postpones feeding. She is attentive ... stands, looks. Place the food on the nest 11:26.
11:35 she jumps on her branch.
11:36 she flies away.

11:43 and 11:46 is again a lively crow spectacle. Boka?
12:19 Boka comes back with another big bird. The first one hasn't eaten yet ...

Hm, looking through my pictures showed that they are all extremely blurry and pixelated. Unfortunately no photos.
I have to look into the settings even though I haven't changed anything. But not today.
I have to go.

This one ... the pantry
13:06

[Polly]

May 29th


03:17 Boka and her chicks are still sleeping. Nice to see that she is still spending the night close to her chicks.

In the meantime the phase has reached where Boka spends most of her time outside the nest. Mostly on her branch, in the nest tree or even in the nearby group of trees.
So it is no longer necessary to document every change between branch and nest.

It becomes normal that the chicks are alone, no longer being slopped and Boka only comes to feed.

04:36 to 04:59 Boka spends time in the group of trees and comes back with a branch.

[Polly]

Control flight - 07:14:30 Boka starts to watch out for something that seems to be near her chicks.





She flies away downwards, seems to circle the lower half of the tree and returns 17 seconds later.

07:20 Boka leaves the branch.

07:23:34 The wind blows a birch branch upon the chicks.

[Polly]

Does it want to be a hedgehog?


07:30 ... and again ...

07:32:07
Boka and three crows.


11:18 Edit: Lui???

It's double boka. I went back a few more times. Just a hawk.
A whim of the screen shooter. Sorry.

[Polly]

09:19:15 ...another cheeky attack.
A crow flies right past Boka.
Two other crows pass the nest from the left.

Boka chases the crow.

09:55 she returns first.
Little One starts begging harder.

10:00 Boka leaves the nest straight ahead. She flies through.
I think that she is now going hunting.

Sweet and quiet ...
10:25


11:06

[Polly]

13:16

Today, the chubby cherubs can wait longer for food. They had a royal meal yesterday.

Currently (after my observation) Boka was not yet back at or in the nest. That means the chicks are now 3.5 hours alone.
They are calm chicks.



( )

[Polly]

Short update after work.

I'm scrolling through the time a little generously from noon on. I may have missed events but whenever I stop, I see love, calm and tucked away down babies.
Only at 17:15 I hear a long nagging. Then again and again.
Well, it doesn't have to be hunger. The chicks ate excellent yesterday. I wouldn't worry if they weren't fed today either. Maybe they just miss the attention of their mom Boka.


It's always windy ... especially this afternoon. Sometimes even the nest swings in the wind - or the camera. No matter. It is enough to see.
Unfortunately it is almost impossible to get sharp pictures. No matter - for me.
I want to share this one anyway because I like these moments.

( )

Little one pushes himself into the care of his sibling.
Both are very connected to each other.

[Marbzy]

There are two meals in the late afternoon / early evening. The first one starts at 18:16, the other - at 19:47.

Meal number three - a huge supper - is brought to the nest at 22:11.

The chicks are being spoilt here!

[Polly]

18:15 ... Boka comes and brings a medium-sized bird.
In fact, it takes a few moments for the chicks to notice their arrival. Then brief excitement and the two sit well in front of their mother until she starts feeding.


18:36 Boka gradually pulls the rest outwards onto the nesting edge. little one follows her hopefully. Until she retires to her branch.

18:43 Little one regrets the end of feeding. And hypnotizes the feed.

[Polly]

There are two meals in the late afternoon / early evening. The first one starts at 18:16, the other - at 19:47.

Meal number three - a huge supper - is brought to the nest at 22:11.

The chicks are being spoilt here!

Thanks Marbzy!
These chicks truly thrive without need.
I missed this last feeding. Thank you!

22:11

(It looks like yesterday 05:55)

And here is the good night photo ...

[Dmtm2005]

Good morning,

11.47 am
Boka once again digging at nest bowl , head completely buried !
Boka returns to branch
Both hawklet’s seem to try the hole made for size