The Red Tailed Hawk fledglings watched by thousands and they hatched and grew in a nest in downtown Portland under the eye of a live raptor cam are now streching their wings and circling downtown Portland, to the delight of onlookers.

"It was really cool to see how many people had been tracking the birds via web cam. Several people stopped to ask if these were 'the birds on TV.' The fledglings were clearly watching the pedestrians as well," said Bob Sallinger, with the Audubon Society of Portland.

And it appeared as though the fledglings' parents were weaning them from their care, too.

"Their parents could be seen flying and soaring nearby riding the air currents around Big Pink. We saw mom visit both youngsters although she did not deliver any food while we were there," Sallinger added.

The two female hawks took their very first flights only last weekend, after the ill and injured third juvenile was found dead Friday.

Thousands have been following the hawks via the KGW / Audubon Raptor Cam since they hatched on April 16th. The juveniles could be seen flapping their wings and hopping about the nest late last week.

Over the weekend, the Audubon Society received many calls about the two fledglings perching on area construction sites, building ledges and in trees along the street.

Live: Raptor Cam

A pair or Red tail Hawks built a nest on the fire escape outside a downtown Portland office building, and viewers have been following the hawk family since the launch of the KGW Audubon Raptor Cam in mid-March.

On April 16th, three chicks hatched; a male and two females.

Slideshow: Chicks Hatch (April 16)

1st Month Photos: Hawks growing fast

2nd Month Photos: Ready to fly

The females thrived but close watchers of the Raptor Cam noticed early on that the male bird struggled to keep up at feeding times.

Bob Sallinger, Conservation Director for the Audubon Society of Portland, studied the birds up close last Wednesday and observed the male fledgling was unable to feed himself, instead begging his parents for food. The bird also had trouble with its eyes, making it even harder to eat.

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KGW Audubon Raptor Cam

A close up view of a male fledgling Red tail with a deformed beak and closed eyes.

On Friday, the juvenile male was found dead on the sidewalk below the hawk nest. The Audubon Society retrieved the bird's body and examined it. According to Sallinger, the bird suffered from multiple health problems, including a fractured jaw which made it difficult to eat, and also an infection. Audubon had considered trying to intervene to rescue the injured hawk, once the two other juveniles had safely fledged from the nest, but the ill juvenile died before the other two fledged.

"Based on the injuries that we were able to observe, it is very unlikely that we would have been able to help him even if he had been captured alive" said Sallinger.

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Meanwhile, Sallinger cautioned that the two juveniles who are now flying are not yet very skilled at landing.

KGW Audubon Raptor Cam

Juvenile Red tail Hawk ready to fly

"It is likely that observers will see them miss targets and scramble down the sides of buildings and tumble through tree limbs," said Sallinger, who added that this is a normal part of the learning process.

Audubon has posted a naturalist at the site of the Raptor Cam Monday morning to keep an eye on the birds, and anyone observing problems can call (503) 292-0304.

Live Video: Raptor Cam