New Kid On The Block

By D. Bruce YoltonOther Red-tailed Hawks

We’re in a fun but unpredictable period for hawk watching in Central Park.  Familiar fledglings are disappearing and new ones are appearing as birds migrate and wander about the New York area.  There have been sightings of immature hawks in the Conservency Gardens at the north of the park and at Bethesda Fountain. in the center of the park.

At the south end of the park, we have a new immature hawk.  Lincoln Karim saw it on Monday, and I found it again on Tuesday.  Its smack dab in the middle of the 888 Seventh Avenue adults territory, but they don’t seem to mind.  Late fall and early winter seem to be relaxed times with roaming juveniles being given lots of leeway.

The new juvenile was finishing a meal of a rodent when I found it.

This new bird is not banded and has a think neck collar of dark feathers.
No bands
Note the full crop, while this bird is doing well, many young Red-tails starve during this period.  Now separated from their parents, if they haven’t developed their hunting skills by now or haven’t found a hunting ground with enough food they could be in trouble.  Red-tailed Hawk rehabilitation experts talk about two spikes in bird rescues, one during fledgling season and another during the early fall has young Red-tails starve.
Note the full crop, while this bird is doing well, many young Red-tails starve during this period.  Now separated from their parents, if they haven’t developed their hunting skills by now or haven’t found a hunting ground with enough food they could be in trouble.  Red-tailed Hawk rehabilitation experts talk about two spikes in bird rescues, one during fledgling season and another during the early fall has young Red-tails starve.