Red-Tailed Hawk on West Hartford’s Hotel Property Is Growing Up

Published On: June 9, 2015Categories: Business, The Center
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Screen shot from YouTube video of red-tailed hawk.

Those who have been watching over the hawk’s nest since it was discovered in West Hartford have filmed a new video of the baby and its mother.

By Ronni Newton, Video by Mike Berzenski

The red-tailed hawk living in a pine tree in Blue Back Square, which developers for the Delamar West Hartford have dubbed the hotel’s first “guest,” became a mom several weeks ago, and the baby hawk is quickly growing up.

East Hampston resident Mike Berzenski has been filming the mother hawk ever since March when the nest was discovered in a large pine tree on the edge of the future hotel’s site.

Berzenski and West Hartford resident Mona Cavallero have been working with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Audubon Society, Trinity College, West Hartford officials, and hotel developers “to protect the hawk nest/tree site as well as work with the town for a successful hotel launch in July by minimizing risks on both ends,” Cavallero said in an email.

As can be seen in the most recent video, taken on Sunday evening, June 7, the baby hawk that Berzenski andCavallero have named “Delamar” has been growing quickly. They anticipate that it will fledge by early July and hope to capture video of the “momentous occasion,” Cavallero said.

“While Mike and I were there, an adult bald eagle flew over the nest and air space. Mama Redtail noticed and didn’t like that and was up there in the air right away making sure that the intruder departed without any harm to her chick. Quite the sight to witness!” Cavallero said.

While not endangered, red-tailed hawks are predatory birds that are protected Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, according to West Hartford Community Services Director Mark McGovern said. “If the nest is deemed to be active, they are not to be disturbed,” McGovern said.

The tree with the hawk’s nest has been separated from the remaining construction site with fencing, and will not be cut down until the baby hawk has fledged.

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