The family of red-tailed hawks that reside outside of Lyman Hall is growing.
Sign outside Lyman Hall. Photo by Kevin Morrow
Many people have watched the hawks from the comfort of their computers (through the SU Hawk Nest Cam), from nest building, egg laying, incubation, hatching, feeding and growing from nestlings to fledglings. Now that all three of the nestlings have fledged, they are juvenile hawks and can be viewed around campus.
“Normal behaviors for the juveniles include screeching loudly for food; walking on the ground or along rooftops; flying high and low; perching on trees, ledges, window sills, gutters and rooftops on one leg or two; pouncing on sticks, rocks and prey (food provided by their parents); eating insects on the ground or in trees; and breaking twigs from trees with their beaks—all a part of learning how to hunt, fend for themselves and live on their own,” said Anne Marie Patti Higgins ’76, G’90. Higgins donates funding for the nest cam establishment, and monitors the hawks on a daily basis.
“It is important to keep a fair distance from a hawk on the ground,” said Higgins. “Do not assume it cannot fly or is injured. Observe the hawk’s behavior for a few minutes and it may walk or fly away. Under no circumstance should you touch a hawk.”
If you are concerned one is injured, call Public Safety at 315.443.2224.
