PLANO (1080 KRLD) - The city of Plano is "expecting" several babies in the near future.
Construction crews working on the renovation of Carpenter Park North this week discovered a red tail hawk nest at the top of a light pole that was scheduled to be taken down as part of the project.
Plano Park Services Manager Ron Smith said as soon as workers discovered the nest, they called his office. Smith, in turn, called in an expert from the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. "We got him up into a bucket truck, and he was able to visually confirm that it was an active breeding pair of red tail hawks. There was one egg yesterday (Tuesday), and the likelihood is that the breeding pair will lay one or two more eggs in the next day or so," Smith said.
The red tail hawk is federally protected, and Smith said it's an honor to have Mr. and Mrs. Hawk preparing to welcome their babies in Plano. Smith said, "This is something we are really proud of, and we look forward to having the opportunity to do what we can to support this breeding pair, and help populate the next generation of red tail hawks in Plano."
Smith said the presence of the birds will not delay the work in Carpenter Park. Once the red tail hawk fledglings are born and leave the nest, it will be abandoned by the parents, and the light pole can come down.