She’s Back

By D. Bruce YoltonSouthern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

The 888 juvenile was back in Central Park on Sunday.  She was first discovered in Columbus Circle and then went on a hunting trip catching two mice and keeping three photographers on their toes as she flew around the park.  She’s no longer staying in one place, but enjoys moving around.

I missed seeing her in Columbus Circle, but caught up to her as she flew to the southwest corner of the park.
She moved east.
Her band number allows me to be sure it’s the 888 juvenile.
She’s off again, moving to a tree by the Pond and then back west to a tree near Cop Cot.
She then catches a small mouse by the wall on Central Park South, just across the street from the Essex House.
She makes quick work of this snack sized mouse.
Then it’s off to an area just north of the South Drive around Seventh Avenue.
Then a small war begins.  This squirrel whose den is at the end of the tree, decides to protect its branch.
The squirrel is amazingly aggressive.  The squirrel tries to bite the juvenile, so she flies off quickly but then returns to the tree branch.
So, this is why you’re worried.
After a stand off, the squirrel come out again.
This stand off ended in an amazing way.  The juvenile dropped from the tree to catch a mouse.  How it kept track of the squirrel and the mouse at the same time, I’ll never know.
It caught the mouse, even while being distracted by the squirrel.
After finishing her meal, she was off again.
By this time, I felt like I had been run around the park too much and gave up on tracking her.  It’s nice to have her back.