Sad News: Red-tailed Hawk Chick “O3” Dies Shortly After Hatching

We’re saddened to share some unfortunate news from the Red-tailed Hawk nest on the Cornell Hawks Cam—O3, the third and final chick to hatch, has died. After an extended hatching process, the chick emerged from its egg on the morning of May 8 but died later that afternoon.

While we can’t be certain of the cause, O3’s lengthy hatching process may have left it exhausted, or there could have been an unknown underlying issue that contributed to its death. Despite this loss, we’re holding out hope for the success of O1 and O2 as we follow them through the next month and a half until they prepare to fledge in June.

Nestling losses are not uncommon for Red-tailed Hawks, as research suggests that more than a quarter of hatchlings do not survive to fledging. Yet Big Red and her mates have demonstrated remarkable productivity over the years, successfully raising 36 out of 37 hatchlings to fledging between 2012 and 2024. We’re optimistic that O1 and O2 will add to that legacy this season. Follow their journey live on the Cornell Hawks Cam.