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Hidden camera captures rare Goshawk eggs as they hatch
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| NEST CAM: The adult Goshawk arrives at the nest |
IT is the moment birds of prey enthusiasts had been waiting six weeks for.
A rare Goshawk mum proudly watches as two of her eggs hatch into chicks in a nest located high in the treetops of the New Forest.
The moment was captured by a secret camera hidden above the nest by the RSPB to show bird enthusiasts one of Britain's most secretive birds.
Known as "phantoms of the forest" due to their elusiveness, there are only 410 pairs left in the UK including the eight pairs left in the New Forest.
All eyes are now on the remaining two eggs that are expected to hatch any day now.
Corina Lewington, of RSPB South East, said: "We couldn't believe it. We saw the first egg hatch, then shortly after we saw her get up again, and a second egg start to crack. I was totally bowled over. We've been watching and waiting for so long, now two have come along at once."
She added: "If you want to see the chicks at their cutest, now is the time to come. In the early days, they wear what you might call their romper suit - all white and fluffy. They will then go into a scruffy teenage' stage before getting their immaculate flying uniform - and all within two months."
From June, a second bird of prey family will hopefully join the Goshawks, as the charity transmits the fortunes of a pair of New Forest Hobbies as they also raise a family together.
During the 1800s hunting and trapping of Goshawks saw their numbers decline and they eventually became extinct as a UK breeding species. As some escaped or were released from captivity the population began to grow.
GOSHAWK FACT FILE
- Goshawks are now protected under UK law after vigorous campaigning from the RSPB and other organisations.
- Both Hobbies and Goshawks are still quite rare and face illegal persecution in some parts of the UK as people steal their eggs.
- Goshawks are large hawks, almost reaching buzzard size.
- Its broad wings enable it to hunt at high speed, weaving in and out of trees, and its long legs and talons can catch its prey in flight.
- The female is substantially larger than the male.
7:44am Wednesday 14th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: stacker, soton on 11:57am Wed 14 May 08
Ahhhhhh how cute is the ickle baby chick. Hope they grow up healty and survive to have their own family some day. Ahhhhh
Ahhhhhh how cute is the ickle baby chick. Hope they grow up healty and survive to have their own family some day. Ahhhhh
Posted by: Artful Dodger, Millbrook on 2:36pm Wed 14 May 08
The wife thought it was eggciting, but I thought it was not all that it was cracked up to be!
The wife thought it was eggciting, but I thought it was not all that it was cracked up to be!
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden, A Cave far far away on 4:12pm Wed 14 May 08
Wow
We will put this in the 'filler' section shall we echo??
Wow
We will put this in the 'filler' section shall we echo??
Posted by: tom, tasty goshawk eggs in my belly!!! on 4:16pm Wed 14 May 08
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! how tragically boring
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! how tragically boring
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