PATIENT OF THE WEEK
Raven and Red-tailed Hawk Fledglings
These fledgling ravens and red-tailed hawks were each brought to Tucson Wildlife Center after falling from their nests. Unfortunately, their parents could not be located, so renesting was not possible. Thankfully, all were unharmed. It is possible that rising temperatures in Tucson played a role in these early nest departures—nests exposed to full sun can become dangerously hot, prompting young birds to leave before they are fully ready.
The young ravens are being raised together, as are the hawks. Right now, these fledglings are growing their flight feathers and are in the “blood feather” stage—a phase where new feathers are still developing and nourished by a blood supply. Once those feathers mature and the birds are strong enough to fly and hunt on their own, they will be ready for release back into the wild.
The ravens will likely be released as a group, since they are highly social, while the more solitary hawks will be released separately. Juvenile ravens are known to form non-breeding flocks that will roost and forage together until they reach breeding age. Red-tailed hawks are territorial and generally live alone or in breeding pairs. They don’t form flocks, even as juveniles.
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