Baby Red Tail Out on a Limb ~ I went back to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve a week after my last birding shoot, to follow up on the Red Tailed Hawk nestlings. This "baby" was out of the nest and out on a limb. Moments later he took what I believe was his first flight. I got a few shots of this big event.
~ This Red Tail Hawk baby made his maiden flight out of the nest tree, and, sorry to say, he wasn't very good at it. He clumsily flew onto this low-hanging branch, lost his balance and slipped down, still hanging on. He looked like he was thinking, "NOW what do I do?" He finally flapped down and stayed on the ground for a few minutes.
After the Flight ~ After a not-so-successful first flight, this Red Tailed Hawk baby sat on the ground for awhile, resting. It was very windy and he had trouble flying back up into the tree, making several attempts.