The Red-tailed Hawk is a familiar sight throughout the state of Connecticut. However, the middle of downtown Hartford is not where most people would expect to see one living and nesting. More closely associated with woodlands and agricultural land, Red-tailed Hawks have adapted remarkably well to city life as this photo nicely shows.
This particular Red-tailed Hawk nest was photographed on February 26th on a State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. Red-tail Hawk nest sites in urban areas are typically situated high up on man-made-structures such as office towers and apartment buildings, as opposed to the standard tall tree. Almost all of the chosen sites are protected from high winds and out of the reach of potential predators.
Red-tailed Hawks usually begin nest building in late February or early March. The Capitol Avenue nest had just been refurbished during the last week with many new sticks and twigs. The female will now spend much of her time inspecting the nest and forming the bowl, with the first eggs due to be laid in late March.
If the nest is successful, the hawks will hunt in nearby Bushnell Park and feed their young a diet of small rodents, rats, squirrels and pigeons.
As a downtown business owner, I feel extremely thankful to have these magnificent birds of prey as my neighbor.
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