Northern Harrier
Northern Harriers generally go back each year to the area where they nested last year. They build their nest on the ground, frequently near low bushes and shrubs. The Northern Harrier does not mate with only one female but, may have two mates. Usually only one of the females can produce young birds because the male will provide one female and her young with food.
After courting and mating the female will generally lay five eggs from sometime in March to July. The eggs are a soft blue at first and then turn to faint whitish color. Some of the eggs may have brown spots while the others may have no markings.
Incubation by the female is interesting. After she lays the second to fourth egg she starts to sit on them and in about 30 days the young hatch. The female feeds the new born birds after she receives food from the male harrier in flight. He passes the food to her while both are in flight. Then she returns to the nest to feed the young birds. After the female receives the food from the male harrier, she will not go back immediately to the nest. She will make many deceptive landings to baffle predators of young harriers.
In about 33 days after hatching the immature Northern Harrier begin flying. In years when food is unusually plentiful, the birds mate when they reach the age of two.
The Northern harrier is an uncommon and local breeding species in the Platte River Valley and rare on the Eastern Plain. Birders suggest there are no more than 100 pairs of Northern Harriers breeding within in an area in any particular year.
The reason for the decline in Northern Harrier population is the use of insecticide, DDT in the past and severely reducing the amount of wetlands and marshlands.
Northern Harriers were common in Connecticut in the 1800s. There isn't much information about the bird during the 1900s. Birders observed twelve or more pairs in the state during the mating period in recent years.
In Nebraska the Northern Harrier is a common resident using the Sandhills as breeding and nesting areas. They migrate north in mid March in springtime and fly south for the winter from mid September to mid October in the fall.
An early study said the Northern Harrier is the most common hawk in Lincoln County in summer and winter.
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