Note: above is a stock photo of a hawk not described in the following story

It's apparently not uncommon, but it's fun to watch.  Iowa's "home of the Hawks" often becomes the literal "home of the hawks" with the birds perched outside the windows of medical facilities and other buildings on campus, according to a UI Health Care article. But this time, their location of choice is a little different and a bit more dangerous, according to KCRG.

A crane outside the University of Iowa Hospitals on, get this, HAWKins Drive in Iowa City became the gathering point for a group of actual hawks.

KCRG
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KCRG
KCRG
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According to Luke Hart with Raptor Advocacy Rehabilitation and Education group (RARE) the nest was discovered back in March. Now, construction crews operating the crane are being asked by RARE and other animal advocacy to please take care of this family of hawks.

Hart told KCRG:

Man-made structures are an attractive nesting site for a lot of wildlife and this definitely fits the bill. We were made aware that some sticks were being placed on the scaffolding of the crane and that two red-tailed hawks were making some serious intent on nesting there.

Regardless of the stage of life, the hawks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It’s been in place since 1918. It prohibits the killing, capturing, selling, trading, and/or transport of protected migratory bird species.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) spokesperson says the construction crew should also be aware of the birds for a different reason. "It’s likely the parent hawks will be aggressively protective and potentially attack any person that comes near the nest."

The hope is to have these beauties remain safe for the 5-6 weeks Hart says it will likely to take for them to be grown enough to fly free on their own.

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