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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 6, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Babies have left nest but are still around Continued from page 8 feces," he said. "They'll also eat around some parts of an animal and just drop that (unwanted part) below the nest." Eventually, the chicks grew and white fluffy feathers gave way to a brown speckled plumage. Due to the heavy activity at the nest, no one seemed sure exactly how many chicks there were with reports running from two fledglings to four. Before long, it was time for flying lessons. "They'd fly from our big evergreen tree to our neighbour's tree and back, but screeching, always screeching. All day long, you can't hear it when you're inside the house, but outside...," said Anderson. "You could tell that they were scared. They would land on the next tree and it's almost like they'd land hard on it." Whatever annoyance the chicks caused with their constant squawking they more than make up for by providing entertainment during this period. "Two of the little ones were sitting on the fence and one decided it was going to do a flight lesson," said Higgins. "It landed on top of one of the small evergreens, but didn't realize the tree couldn't support it and as it landed it flipped upside-down and started flapping its wings. It then realized it was upside-down and sort of dropped down into the brush. Then it sort of waddled back to the fence to be with its brother or sister. They're a couple of little clowns." Today, Anderson noted, the young have left the nest, but they are still around. Only a week ago Anderson returned from a shopping trip to find one of the young Goshawks calmly standing on LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER AT HOME: Goshawks have moved in near Carla Court. SAT AUG 9TH ONE OF PGA GOLF'S BEST IS COMING! YOU'RE ALL INVITED... FREE "Family Golf Learning Centre, ay of golf. g ge to you. Hall of Fame, ybody's list of 1 other books, winner, and is g" yards and in ement. IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY, AND YOU'RE INVITED the road in front of her house. Anderson said the young hawk took in the site of the neighbourhood for quite some time before someone got too close causing it to take flight. Despite the screeching and squawking and periodic avalanche of bird and mouse carcasses on her property, Anderson still considers her experience with her unique neighbours a positive one, dubbing it a learning experience. "It's been great watching them with our binoculars and watching all the other animals interact with each other," she said. How far will the young go from home? Hard to say. Hubert said the Goshawk is not a migratory bird, meaning it likes to stay in one area. That said, he also described the bird as nomadic at times noting that if circumstances dictate the bird will move. "They may use one nest for a couple of years and then just move on to a new site. Some pairs will use the same nest as long as one or both birds are alive," he said. "It depends on how much prey is available in the area and how much disturbance there is in the area." PUTTING CONTEST FOR GREAT PRIZES & EVERYONE WINS! p Selected as one of the "Top 100 Ranges in America" Last 11 Years in a row (1997-2007) g 1455 Joshuas Creek Drive Just West of 403, Oakville www.familygolfoakville.com 905-842-6120