Baby Red Tail?

[Greglarson]

Hello- 

Was weed whacking the garden and these two characters wandered out of the bushes. They walked around the house and did not fly away. We’ve had red tail hawks in the neighborhood all summer. I posted pics in June and the forum identified them as juvenile red tails. Wondering if these young ones are babies. I am about Cape Cod, MA. Thank you in advance.

[Greglarson]

“on” Cape Cod

[Kevin]

Those are Northern Bobwhites! 

[Kevin]

You are on the edge of their range, and I think they are pretty rare up there. Sadly they are on the decline, and all but rare down here too. 

[Greglarson]

Thank you! Now they are digging a hole next to the drive and “nesting”.

[The Bird Nuts]

27 minutes ago, Greglarson said:

Thank you! Now they are digging a hole next to the drive and “nesting”.

They are taking a dust bath.  Birds do this to clean their feathers and rid themselves of parasites.

[Peromyscus]

Northern Bobwhites up north, walking around and dust-bathing (or resting, but not nesting).

[hbvol50]

Good bird for Cape Cod! However, it could be an escapee from a farming operation.

[Quiscalus quiscula]

3 hours ago, hbvol50 said:

Good bird for Cape Cod! However, it could be an escapee from a farming operation.

Farming operation? You mean programs to increase the numbers of Northern Bobwhites?

[Quiscalus quiscula]

Agree with Northern Bobwhite. Amazing and wonderful birds.

[Seanbirds]

36 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said:

Farming operation?

Probably for hunting.

[hbvol50]

Bobwhites are raised for release for hunting and as poultry.  Farmed birds seldom survive long in the wild

[Quiscalus quiscula]

50 minutes ago, hbvol50 said:

Bobwhites are raised for release for hunting and as poultry.  Farmed birds seldom survive long in the wild

But if the Bobwhite population is going down, how come it's still legal to do that?

[Connor Cochrane]

17 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said:

But if the Bobwhite population is going down, how come it's still legal to do that?

I’ve shot bobwhite in Oregon when going chukar hunting, there are a lot of domestic birds that are released thoughout the country. 

[Quiscalus quiscula]

Just now, Connor Cochrane said:

I’ve shot bobwhite in Oregon when going chukar hunting, there are a lot of domestic birds that are released thoughout the country. 

True, there are a lot of releases, but how much do you think this impacts the bird populations? Couldn't these farming operation birds be put to better use? The Northern Bobwhite is now classified as Near Threatened and without proper care it could go the way of the Heath Hen.

[MWM]

As with Ring-necked Pheasants & other game birds, Bobwhite are usually raised by privately-owned farms that offer hunting for a fee. At least some of the birds escape so you still have a chance of seeing them in those areas. Unfortunately, predation and loss of habitat are more detrimental to the survival or re-introduction of the species.

[hbvol50]

I have heard that studies show that releases of farmed birds almost never establish a viable population and trapping and transplanting does about the same.  Habitat loss is the major problem.  they do best living in an area which is a mix of woodland and farms both of which are disappearing.