I missed the whole first part of Jared the Bander guy answering questions tonight at the CoHa site. I copied most of his info from when I came in. Maybe R4 can fill in the first part that I missed.
(I tried to cut out a lot of the stuff chatters were talking about that had nothing to do with the info Jared was giving. Made me think about how we used to goof off in Coverts class and not pay attention to our teacher. LOL)

Wascana Naturalist: From my banding over the last 6 years, males during the breeding season are only around 280 grams. Females are over 450 to 600 grams
Wascana Naturalist: We also watch the interactions and behaviour of the adults at the nest
readlistendream: do the parents treat the young differently by gender?
altazena: What behaviours are you noticing?
Wascana Naturalist: Interestingly, the females spend almost all of their time around the nest. Even though you can't see her, she is usually within 50m of the nest. It is the male who does almost all of the hunting
Wascana Naturalist: Although the female should start doing some more hunting once the babies get a bit older her
jillbru: and weight
Wascana Naturalist: The male chicks were smaller, their legs thinner, their weights lower
pbearskcmo: by size do you mean weight?
Wascana Naturalist: The males weighed 250-280grams
birdsrmypassion: ....and the female was the cutest!!
Wascana Naturalist: The female was 380 grams
ctgeomom: are these Coopers currently involved in some kind of study, hence the permit to band them?
Wascana Naturalist: Yes, we have been banding and monitoring urban COHA for the last 7 years
altazena: Jared, Could you give me the weights again for the chicks? It's already off the top.
Wascana Naturalist: Its not a big study but we are learning some interesting things
Wascana Naturalist: One of the males we originally banded in 2006 has nesting in Wascana Centre for sure up until 2012
ctgeomom: how is a monitoring study like that initiated?
pbearskcmo: I am late to this--this is an urban area??
Wascana Naturalist: Males 250-280
Wascana Naturalist: Female 380
Wascana Naturalist: Yes, Wascana Centre is 2,000 acre urban park within Regina, bordering a man made lake that is 300 acres large
birdsrmypassion: Jared we have been watching readtailed for the past 2 years and we still learning so much of their behavior. always something that was never seen before
Wascana Naturalist: It is possible, but usually by this age, females will be much larger then males.
readlistendream: so in awe of the mothers' care and concern
jillbru: Jared, do the young juvies return to the area to nest?
Wascana Naturalist: Yes, this camera has provided some amazing footage!
altazena: After reading that the 5th chick usually dies, I wonder if the 5th could perhaps be a small female at this point.
Wascana Naturalist: We have not found any young birds return to Wascana Centre in subsequent years
jillbru: wow not in all those years!
readlistendream: awww
birdsrmypassion: any concerns about that?
pbearskcmo: Do you know where they go
jillbru: Do you get reports about the whereabouts of the juvies?
Wascana Naturalist: No, density of COHA is very low here. This is the first year we have had 3 nests. Typically 1 or 2.
jillbru: I would think the kids would come back
ctgeomom: Jared, is there a list of questions or information that the banding process attempts to provide answers to?
Wascana Naturalist: And then we are in the middle of prairie, so not really COHA habitat.
Wascana Naturalist: surrounding the city
jillbru: do you think that explains it why the young do not return?
Wascana Naturalist: The Qu'Appelle Valley is the closest suitable habitat where we band other COHA nests, but it is 30-40 km away
Wascana Naturalist: probably why we don't see young birds return
Wascana Naturalist: At the same time, I think most survival of post fledged young hawks is only like 30-40%, but I don't quote me on that
Wascana Naturalist: So not a lot make it past 1 year
birdsrmypassion: awww that is so sad!
Wascana Naturalist: I don't know how far the young disperse although there is likely info from urban nesting population study's in British Columbia
Wascana Naturalist: We have only known about COHA nesting in Regina since 2003
altazena: Here's the info on survival rates from my book. percentage loss each year: 1st 77.5%; 2nd 48.3%; 3rd 20.0%;
jillbru: Ah so they may be adapting
jillbru: That first year is really a killer!
Wascana Naturalist: Starvation would like be the greatest cause of mortality in first year hawks
pbearskcmo: like a lot of birds
altazena: Here's the info on survival rates from my book. percentage loss each year: 1st 77.5%; 2nd 48.3%; 3rd 20.0%;
jillbru: Ah so they may be adapting
SlowTurning: That's pretty sobering for sure, alta
Wascana Naturalist: Its hard to learn to catch birds
Wascana Naturalist: Thanks alta
Wascana Naturalist: What book is that from?
altazena: Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World
altazena: by Brown and Amadon
Wascana Naturalist: Yes, on the questions to justify study. Because COHA were new to nesting in this city we wanted to see how their population grew potentially and see if it was young birds returning who grew it
Wascana Naturalist: Birds typically have a strong dispersal behaviour in them to avoid inbreeding
Wascana Naturalist: Typically one sex returns to the same area they were raised and the other sex disperses far away
Wascana Naturalist: So I would only expect to see one sex come back, but again the city is such a little pocket of suitable breeding habitat, there isn't really room for many other birds.
Wascana Naturalist: We have searched around quite a bit
raptorz4ever: Jared, do you also have sharp-shinned hawks in the area?
SlowTurning: Jared, do you mean other Cooper's?
Wascana Naturalist: No Sharp-shins do not nest in Regina. There have been a few records from the Qu'Appelle Valley which is north of us 30-40 km
babynurse1: hi slow
altazena: If one of your banded birds is found and the band read, will you be notified of that information?
jillbru: Do birders report to you if they find a banded bird?
ctgeomom: Jared, is there a predominant hawk species in the area preceeding the more recent arrival of the Cooper's hawk to the area?
Wascana Naturalist: But most sharpies go north to the boreal forest, 300 km away
Wascana Naturalist: Yes, I will receive recovery information if the band is reported
Wascana Naturalist: You can report a band recovery or if you read a band at www.reportband.gov
Wascana Naturalist: although the site is temporarily down I believe
babynurse1: hi pbears!!!!good to see ya
jillbru: Thanks Jared!
altazena: Is that a Canadian site?
Wascana Naturalist: Do I mean Cooper's Hawks about the dispersing information?
Wascana Naturalist: No that is typical for all birds
Wascana Naturalist: No that is a USGS site, but is supported by the BBL and Bird Banding Office in Canada
Wascana Naturalist: Canada and the US work closely together for banding information.
Wascana Naturalist: No not really. We don't have urban nesting Red-tails or Swainson's
Wascana Naturalist: No Ospreys in the park. Again they nest way north of us, in the Boreal Forest
Wascana Naturalist: We are in the middle of the Moist Mixed Grasslands ecoregion
Wascana Naturalist: All of the trees in Regina have been hand planted or grown from hand planted trees
ctgeomom: Jared, whre is the park located that this nest is in? Is it southern Regina?
Wascana Naturalist: We were completely bald prairie prior to settlement
jillbru: wow quite a feat!
Wascana Naturalist: It is in Wascana Centre, in Regina. Wascana Centre will come up on google maps. Or you could try Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina
Wascana Naturalist: The nest is close to the Science Centre
Wascana Naturalist: Frost free days.... We had snow until May 5th this year...
Wascana Naturalist: Summer is from June to end of August
raptorz4ever: Jared, I have observed Cooper's in TX for 5 years. They are about 35 days ahead of these.
jillbru: Oh Jared which cornell cams did you see?
Wascana Naturalist: Interesting!
Wascana Naturalist: We've watched them all!
Wascana Naturalist: Sorry folks. I have to go put my boys to bed.
Wascana Naturalist: Take care and thanks for tuning into our web cam!
readlistendream: sharing info is wonderful
pbearskcmo: Thanks so much for all the great info
readlistendream: ty Jared!
babynurse1: bye jared nice to meet you and thanks
PeaKid: thank you jared!
raptorz4ever: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all our questions.
altazena: Jared, Thank you very much for all the answers you gave. I hope we see you again.
ctgeomom: ty Jared
jillbru: ctg you need to explore this site - there is a lot of info!
birdsrmypassion: Thank you so much for caring about the creatures of this world!
ctgeomom: one person, alone, banded all 5 chicks, wow
jillbru: Yep, no kidding!
jillbru: 35 feet in the air!
pbearskcmo: with an antsy mom in attendance
jillbru: and a po'd dad coming at him
ctgeomom: yes jill, I agree. Coopers are interesting and this site and area is intriging too. I had no idea they created this area, all man planted trees!
raptorz4ever: He banded the adult female too.
SlowTurning: r4, today too?
raptorz4ever: Yes
babynurse1: how did he catch her
birdsrmypassion: I will do my very best to make u guys happy ")
SlowTurning: Yikes, he had bare hands!
jillbru: a mist net and a lure
altazena: I can't stay.... Slowly turning into a pumpkin.
SlowTurning: jill, I had that question half-typed
babynurse1: wow i didnt know they did her too
SlowTurning: Good one, alta!!
jillbru: lol alta you can't go yet!
raptorz4ever: Caught her with a mist net and a GHO lure.
raptorz4ever: The adult female is small for a CoHa.

And -- as Patti promised -- here is the first part of the chat interview with Wascana Naturalist aka Jared:

Wascana Naturalist: There were 4 males and 1 female.
The males were between 250-280 grams and the female was 380.
I also caught the adult female from this nest this morning and banded her with a red colour band 5 over K.
altazena: Jared, How did you catch her?
Wascana Naturalist: She was only 484 grams, which is smaller then many of the other female COHA I have banded in the past
Usually they are above 500 grams and some over 600.
CulleyL: Yeah, she's tiny.
altazena: Did she seem thin to you?
birdsrmypassion: right leg or left leg for the adult?
Wascana Naturalist: We caught her using mist nets and a lure
altazena: Did you try to catch the male?
Wascana Naturalist: Right, I chose to leave the male today. I was on my own this morning.
Hard to fool him when he's swooping at you!
We will try for him next week. I would have had to change my trap set up to try for the male and more people were active in the park.
CulleyL: Mariah's weight is 1030 grams if that helps.
CulleyL: Did the parents give you trouble when you were messing with the kids?
Wascana Naturalist: No real trouble with the adults. The male came in a buzzed me close but didn't make contact.
raptorz4ever: Did you use a GHO lure?
Wascana Naturalist: Yes GHO lure
roses4redtails: Parent on board
Wascana Naturalist: Can you see the females red band on her left leg?
altazena: Yes, it looks pink in this light.
PeaKid: so the female is banded but the male isn't?
altazena: Jared, How does the GHO lure work? Do they want to buzz it and chase it away?
Wascana Naturalist: Yes, the hawks come in to buzz the owl.
raptorz4ever: Was it a live GHO?
Wascana Naturalist: No it was a stuffed owl
I have used live owls in the past and have had better success, but it is a lot easier to keep a stuffed owl instead of a live one.

raptorz4ever: Do all appear healthy to you?
Wascana Naturalist: The birds are preening alot because they are pulling off the feather sheaths of their emerging feathers.
jillbru: Jared we think they look nice and healthy - is that your opinion now that you have held them?
Wascana Naturalist: The birds seemed in good condition for sure.
Wascana Naturalist: I once hand raised a burrowing owl for a captive education organization. When the little guy would preen he would have a pile of dander underneath him.
birdsrmypassion: WN, what is the biggest surprise about this nest?
Wascana Naturalist: Biggest surprise is that we have 3 active Cooper's Hawk nests in the park this summer!
in about 2,000 acres of urban park.
At one of the other nests, the male was colour banded in 2006. We have followed him and confirmed him breeding in the park up until last year (6 years)
this year I think he is back, but his colour band appears to have fallen off
DaintyDane: Do you know the nest density of the others? Are they five-hawk clutches as well?
Wascana Naturalist: The other nest has only 3 chicks I think (checked it out today, but didn't climb up
And I don't know how many chicks the thrid nest has
Wascana Naturalist: the nest is quite high in a green ash. Probably 35 feet
The nest is actually a good size. Quite deep, built up on a fox squirrel nest
We used our forestry lift truck with a bucket.
Easiest banding I have ever done. All the rest of the time I have to climb the tree
Female was definately aggitated during the nestling banding
ctgeomom: is the process for banding permits different in Canada than in the USA?
Wascana Naturalist: No I think banding permit similar in Canada as US.
We go through Canadian Wildlife Service, similar to BBL
and then provincial permits

Today, Mom CoHa decided to teach her chicks a lesson. She dropped prey into the nest, and sure enough, they figured out what to do with it. It wasn't easy, but they passed it around and most got a few bites.

The little hawks' flight feathers are filling out nicely, and they should begin to venture outside the nest most any time now.

Yesterday, the hawklets began to do their first "branching," flutter-jumping up onto the support limb at 9:00. One may have reached the limb where Mom perches most of the time.

This morning, Mom brought a good-sized prey to the nest and fed the chicks for about 27 minutes. They still form a semi-circle in front of her and wait politely (more or less) for their turn to be fed. They look like little school children all lined up in a row.

For R4's scrapbook.

ncaerie got 4 of the 5 branching! Woo Hoo! Nice one.

Another vid from ncaerie!

Published on Jul 17, 2013

After dinner the nestlings clean their beaks like good little hawks, then they show off their flapping skills and even some branching skills mimicking Mom on her "guard branch". They are progressing rapidly!

Mama Cooper's hawk still brings meals to her babies and feeds them. They will be a month old tomorrow, and they still line up like school children for their meals. I did see the little hawk on the right slip under Mom and steal a few morsels. When the little guy in the middle got squeezed out, he tunneled underneath his sibling and got right back in line.

Moments before and immediately after the feeding, about half of the young hawks were back in the tree for exploration.

There was an empty nest when dark settled over the Sask Cooper's Hawk nest last night, but the little hawks were back in the nest for breakfast this morning. Later during the day, four of the hawklets lined up for a nap. Chatters decided they looked like slices of a hawk pie.

Oops! Forgot to put this one in here.

And here's July 20th and 21st to add to R4's scrapbook.
This one looks good Full Screen.

I'm on a roll. Here ya go R4. I could hardly stay awake after doing this one and listening to that music a few times.

Patti, I am thrilled to have that live real-time coverage on video!!

And... just when you all think these little guys are grown up enough to self-feed and fly all around (which they are), here comes Mama with a big dinner and serves it to her kids, all five gathered around in a semi-circle, just like they were taught to do. They are so big now they have to get down on their tarsi to be underneath Mama and get food (sort of like kneeling on your ankles instead of your knees).

Mama knows!

CRM, I am just now finding this post and want to thank you for the information. You have added a new dimension to our viewing experience at the Sask CoHa web cam. Thanks for your input there and on this forum!

r4

No hawks were seen at the nest all day yesterday. Finally this red-band-boy showed today around mid-day for lunch. He took a break and wandered around the nest, giving the camera an evil eye. Three dark bands are now prominent on the juvie's tail, so it's almost as long as the adults'.