Locals in Arizona are alarmed by the increasing number of baby hawks discovered on the ground.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department have recently received reports of Cooper's Hawks swooping down on unsuspecting homeowners, which indicates that when the temperature rises beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit, juvenile hawks are becoming old enough to leave their nests and begin to learn how to fly.

Fledging Juvenile Hawks

Local wildlife rehabilitators receive a flood of inquiries from worried residents about baby hawks on the ground as a result of the process, known as fledging. Young Copper's hawks go through a typical stage of development where they are on the ground.

They will continue to be fed by their parents on the ground, and they will eventually learn how to fly. The birds can ascend the tree by moving from branch to branch with their talons.

Even though these baby hawks have feathers, they may still have white down stuck in the spaces between them. When approached, they will sprint pretty well with their heads bowed forward.

What to Do, According to Wildlife Officials:

A baby hawk may have fallen out of the nest owing to severe winds if it has more down than feathers and does not try to flee when approached. It might be put in an "alternate nest," such as a laundry basket or a milk container. This needs to be fastened to the tree where the bird's nest is at shoulder height, with an old, soft towel placed in the bottom.

Additionally, the container may be fastened to a nearby tree that will provide shade. Place the newborn hawk on the new nest so that its parents may feed it, 13News reports.

What to Avoid

Never take young birds out of the wild just because they have left the nest; only take them out of the wild if they are hurt or orphaned. Their biological parents are the ideal people to raise them. A local wildlife rehabber should be contacted if any wildlife is left unattended for longer than 24 hours since it may have been abandoned.

The parents of the young hawks can be very protective before they leave the nest and will even "dive bomb" people or huge animals just passing below the nest. Pets and other commotion should be kept out of the area.

This protective activity stops after the young are on the ground, providing the false impression that they have been abandoned. Parents still provide food for their young on the ground while motivating them to return to the tree or even try flying.

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Kathie Schroder, a local wildlife rehabilitator, argued that the baby hawks are not in as much danger as people believe. They occasionally fall prey to bobcats, but other than people and cars, they are largely safe. They must be reared by their parents to teach them how to catch prey on the fly like other birds. They cannot learn that from anyone, not even from addicts. However, a rehabber can assist if one is truly hurt, KGUN9 Tucson reports.

An Arizona Game and Fish Department employee or a rehabber can advise on how to set up an "alternate nest" for the baby hawks. This will keep the fledging hawks off the ground.

It is advisable to leave the birds alone or offer them an alternate nest rather than transporting them to a rehabber, even a nearby bird sanctuary. Cooper's Hawks, capable of "nest jumping," are the only raptors protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, according to Cooper Area.

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