For the eighth year in a row, Nate and Liz, the New York Botanical Garden’s resident red-tailed hawk pair, have extended their family. This also marks the third year that they nested in an Eastern White Pine tree.

This year’s avian adventure began on January 28 when I spotted Nate breaking off a branch and flying it to the nest. I observed both hawks every day after that, adding more branches and tree bark to their current home.

And then, on March 13, I spotted one of them sitting in the nest. The countdown begins! Throughout the week, I watched them as they took turns in their egg warming duties. It is during this time of the year that I’m on pins and needles, hoping that all will be well, and that soon I’d see a tiny, fluffy little head peering out into the world.

I had to wait until April 19, when one of three little ones finally made their grand appearance. Three weeks later, the other two made themselves known.

Now it was only a matter of time before they fledged—when they would have enough feathers in their wings to fly. Every day at work, I would check in on them, only to be disappointed to see all three still at home. During this time, they would jump up and down, flapping their wings furiously while their parents urged them to follow along by flying off with fresh carcasses.

On Saturday, June 8, Ben Crawford—our intrepid video producer—spotted one of the fledgling hawks near the main tram stop.

Since then, all three of these young rascals have been seen by staff in the trees and lawns of the Library grounds, exploring their new world and trying with mixed success to hunt for themselves, confusing branches, grass, and tree bark for living prey. They’ve recently discovered the cool, refreshing waters of the Fountain of Life, where they’ve taken a dip on more than one occasion.

I want to encourage all bird lovers to explore our magnificent 250 acres, especially near the Library. You might just spot one of the fledglings or their parents on top of the building’s dome, planning their next aerial attack on an unsuspecting squirrel.

Honestly, it never gets old.