The healthy Fifth Avenue fledgling, that has so far escaped eating a poisoned rodent, has become an excellent hunter and is exploring further and further.

Today, thanks to fellow hawk watchers, I caught up with the youngster just north of “The Yard”, the equipment depot for the park at 79th Street on the western side of the park.  After a patient wait, the hawk caught a rat and then flew across the West Drive to a tree just north of the Swedish Cottage to eat. 

The video and pictures have lots of eating, so if this bothers you feel free to skip this post.  Also, the panting and spread wings are normal for any hawk trying to stay cool on a hot, summer day.

A vacation, followed by a business trip, followed by a failed hard drive have kept me from posting for two weeks. 

While I was away, two of the juveniles at Fifth Avenue fell sick.  The first was easily captured.  But as often happens, it was clear the second youngster was sick, but was still able to elude caputure for a few days.  Thanks to all who kept an eye on the second sick hawk, and Rob Mastrianni, an Urban Park Ranger, who was able to capture the second hawk.

At least one juvenile has been confirmed to have have ingested rodenticides.  The two hawks are now with WINORR.  Visit their Facebook Page for updates on the fledglings and to see some of the other work they’re doing.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday I made three, very, brief visits to Central Park between rain storms.  On Friday, I saw the 2nd Year hawk that is just getting it’s Red Tail.  On Saturday and Sunday, I got to photograph Pale Male.  I also had glimpses of his mate and the healthy juvenile, but didn’t get any pictures.

I spent about an hour around Cedar Hill in Central Park this afternoon and saw two fledglings and one of the parents.

The two fledglings cried and cried for food.  With every set of fledglings, there is a period where they are capable of hunting, but they continue to beg for food.  The parents, knowing they should be learning independence, ignore them.

Invariably, you’ll also see a newbie hawk watcher get all worried.  They’ll ask “Do we need to feed them?” and I’ll just laugh.  What is it about our culture that makes people think they need to help wild animals?  These animals have taken care of themselves for millenniums.

All three Fifth Avenue juveniles were on either side of the 79th Street Transverse this evening.  One caught a rat all on its own and ate about half of it before having it stolen by a sibling.  I didn’t see either parents while I was watching the kids.

The three fledglings all got at least a taste of a Rock Pigeon delivered by one of the parents.  Two got real tastes and one only got a little bit of left overs.  Both parents were seen, so the whole family was accounted for.

During the few hours I was with the Fifth Avenue fledglings I heard lots of crying for food.  None was delivered, although both parents were seen. 

The crying doesn’t mean the kids aren’t being fed.  I’m sure the parents know what they’re doing.  I suspect we’ll see the kids trying to hunt for themselves and possibly migrate up to Cedar Hill over the next week.