A third egg was laid Thursday, March 12th in a Red-tail hawk nest seen on the KGW Audubon Raptor Cam. Two eggs appeared in the nest between March 6-8.

Three eggs visible in the hawk nest on the KGW / Audubon Raptor Cam

The adult male and adult female have been taking turns sitting on the eggs since Monday, March 9th. While one hawk minds the nest, the other is out hunting, according to Bob Salllinger, Wildlife Director for the Audubon Society of Portland.

This is the third year in a row that KGW and the Audubon Society have partnered to provide viewers with an up close view of this Red-tail hawk nest, located on a fire escape high on a downtown Portland office building.

 Photos: Eggs in Hawk nest

 Live: Watch Raptor Cam

Some local Red-tailed hawks remain in the Portland Metro area year round. Other Red-tails migrate south for the winter and some migrate to Oregon from climates farther north.

The Red-tails entered their “courtship” and “nest building” phase in February.

Last year, the hawks laid three eggs around March 8 and three chicks hatched on April 16 but one later died after struggling with a deformity that prevented him from feeding. More: Male nestling dies

In 2007, the hawks laid two eggs and one of the juveniles survived.

Red-tail hawk in nest on Raptor Cam, 3/10/09.

American Red-tail hawks are legally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The hawks nesting in downtown Portland seen on the Raptor Cam are not disturbed by the surveillance. The camera itself is placed about 15 feet above the nest and shoots through a fire escape.

The female is about 25 percent larger than the male.

BLOG: Read about the latest developments in the nest on the Raptor Cam Blog

More:

Late winter provides excellent avian watching, particularly when looking for birds of prey, Audubon Society experts said. Sauvie Island Wildlife Refuge provides one of the best locations for bird watching at this time of year.

Bird watchers were encouraged to participate in the Audubon Society’s Bird of Prey Photo Contest.