The 93rd Street Red-tailed Hawk fledglings have moved north of the 96th Street Transverse, to the Recreation Center and the North Meadow in the last week. The Recreation Center is under construction and is fenced off, giving them a human and dog free playground after the construction crews have left.

On Wednesday evening, we had a bit of trouble finding the fledglings. We found one north of the Recreation Center. It ended up going all around the Recreation Center before exploring the western side of the North Meadow. This is the same area, Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl hunted in last summer, and like Flaco the hawk perched on a tractor.

One of the parents arrived with a Brown Rat, and a fledgling that looked to have already eaten joined them on a backstop. But the parent must of wanted to feed on of the other fledglings, and flew south.

On Thursday afternoon, all three of the fledglings were on the roof to the Recreation Center. They soon explored the trees and fences and as I was leaving one of the parents brought in a rodent.

I’m sad to report that at the 102nd/Riverside nest one of the fledglings was found on the ground, emaciated and covered in flies a few days ago. It was transported to the Wild Bird Fund, but passed away the next day.