Spotlight : HawkCam

The Hawks are back in 2006! Go see them»

2004 HawkCam Timeline
April 9 Welcome to MIT Video
Hawk hatchlings on April 9 Our reliable source (DUSP Professor Karen Polenske) told us that the chicks were hatched around April 9th. Since hawk chicks fledge, or grow the plumage necessary for flight, in 44 to 46 days, that put their first flight sometime around May 24th to May 26th. In the meantime, we enjoyed watching their development.
  • Video clip shown at 2004 Commencement
  • Hi - 220k
  • Med - 80k
  • Lo - 56k
April 26 The Proud Parents Video
hawks Momma and poppa kept a close watch on the nest, and momma hawk regularly brought the hungry chicks an assortment of Cambridge delicacies - mostly small rodents and the occasional bird.
May 3 Stretch Those Wings Video
hawks Momma continued to feed the chicks, but soon they would be able to tear apart the food and feed themselves.
May 10 What a Difference a Week Makes Video
hawks The baby hawks have changed from downy white chicks to fledged junior hawks, developing more dark plumage each day.
May 24 Testing... Testing... Video
hawks The fledglings continue to stretch and flex, getting ready for the big day.
May 26 First Flight Video
hawks Right on schedule, the larger of the two fledglings left the comfort and safety of the nest for its first solo flight. According to eyewitness reports, the hawk dropped from its perch with open wings and glided across a busy street to land on the bike rack outside the Student Center. On the advice of the Audubon Society, MIT Police secured the area to keep onlookers at a distance. This doubtless set momma and poppa hawk at ease as they surveyed the entire scene from surrounding rooftops.
May 26 Return to the Nest Video
hawks That was fun! Let's try that again!
May 29 The Empty Nest Video
hawks When no one was looking, the smaller of the fledglings finally flew. We get occasional email about hawk sightings - on the roof of the Student Center, on a window ledge in Building 7. We wish them well and hope to see them again next year.
  • Video clip shown at 2004 Commencement
  • Hi - 220k
  • Med - 80k
  • Lo - 56k

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

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background

In early spring 2004, a mating pair of Red Tailed Hawks set up residence in a congested part of campus - curbside on Mass Ave. in front of Building 9. These hawks are reported to have been building nests on the MIT campus for several years. We are fortunate that this year they nested in a spot where we could capture and share a peek at a hawk's life.

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feedback

“Pure brilliance. Whose idea was it to aim the cam and do the daily live-feed? (No baby-feeding-pun intended.) Crown that person, please. Give them tenure/their own country. I don’t see many hawks in the city of Chicago; just some tired-looking raccoons and the occasional nearly-hairless squirrel. National Geographic has nothing on you guys.”

 

“Thanks for setting up the fantastic live video stream of the nest! I was lucky to view them out the window as fluffy babies a few weeks ago with binoculars but this is WAY better! They're sure growing fast!!! You rock.”

 

“I think it's really wonderful that you are able to share the wonder of these birds’ lives with us through the cam. I saw the feature on the MIT home page today and immediately logged into it. I will be looking at it a lot and watching the chicks grow. Thanks again! I love this!”

 

“Thanks for putting a camera on these beautiful birds AND for keeping their location a secret.”

Hawk Facts

To learn more about hawks, please visit:

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