Camera Location

Here is the triad of branches at the very top of the tree where we attached the camera.  

The Original Nest

This picture of Elizabeth by the nest was taken from the western leader.  You can see the nest looks just like a big haphazard heap of twigs, branches and pine needles about 3 feet across.  What you can't see very well is that in the center there's a little bowl-shaped depression only about ten inches across.  It's a perfect half-sphere lined with mud, moss, and soft grass, set into this huge mess of random branches and twigs.

Head in the Clouds

Here's Mont standing nervously in the western leader of the tree with his head above the top. The photo was taken by Elizabeth from behind and below the nest in the eastern leader. We chose to mount the camera in the triad of branches near his left knee, about 42'' from and 18'' above the nest. 

Scouting climb

Our project began with our first trip up the tree in November.  We wanted to have a look at the nest and see if there was a likely place to position the camera so as to get the best view.  The tree in question is a 96-foot tall Canary Island Pine that is by far the tallest tree in the neighborhood and probably the tallest tree in Davis.  

From the top it certainly looks like there's nothing else that even comes close to the same height. The view from the top of the tree is truly incredible.  Not only can you see most of Davis, but on a clear day you can see Mount Diablo(70 miles to the south), the Sutter Buttes(70 miles to the north), the Sacramento skyline, and the sierras beyond it(100 miles east).

Twenty-five feet from the top of the tree, the trunk splits into two leaders that continue pretty much straight up and stay fairly close together (they are only about 5 feet apart at the very top).  The hawk nest was built in a triad of branches at the top of the eastern leader, and there was a corresponding triad at the top of the western leader(which is a little taller) a few feet above the nest, which was a perfect place to position the camera.