The Swainson’s Hawk Nest Cam is not available for 2009. Below is a message from Mike Bradbury explaining the Nest Cam nest collapse over Memorial Day Weekend. Unfortunately, the pair lost their eggs.

Report from Mike Bradbury, Swainson’s Hawk biologist. (For more information from Mike, click on Q&A on our home page, www.swainsonshawk.org.)

One of the points I try to make at all my presentations is that nature isn't kind. The beauty of our hawks relies at the untimely deaths of a lot of other animals that they feed on. This is no exception to the laws of nature. Apparently one side of the nest collapsed, and the eggs fell out. I don't know if it was a factor of the winds or the fact that they built on an existing nest that was in poor condition, or both. I witnessed the male attempting to plug the hole in the side of the nest, but I think it was too late at that point. The reason the view looks so different now is that none of the nest is visible any more, either having subsided or fallen apart. The camera has not moved.

On Saturday I drove to the nest tree to confirm the loss of the nest, and found and removed the remains of the eggs and young. Developmentally, the young were close to hatching. I'll contact Fish and Game and UC Davis to determine if genetics or other tests can be conducted on the remains.

The birds may try to re-nest, but that rarely works out, especially as late as it is. For those who work near the nest tree, please keep an eye out for any new nest construction. Mike