Tonight, shortly after I arrived in the park, Pale Male caught a pigeon and proceeded to eat it in a tree to the north of the building that stores the boats at the Model Boat Pond.

After he was done eating, he wanted to share his catch with his new mate, but had difficulties finding her.  Finally, she arrived but it was unclear if she took the food.

She ended up on a building railing, and flew into a sliding glass door.  She did so at an angle, so I don’t think she was going after her reflection but instead was confused by the light at twilight.  She appeared to be uninjured.

At the end of the evening, Pale Male was on the nest and then flew off to roost in a tree to the northwest.

The 5th Avenue Hawks copulated at least nine times on Sunday.  Spring sure is around the corner.

Saturday on Fifth Avenue was full of excitment.  The “bench” counted at least eight copulations, of which I saw four.  It’s a fun time to down at the Model Boat Pond.  The copulations occured all over the place, with the pair putting on quite a show.

Lola would usually have been brooding by this time of year.  The late start might end up helping this year.  If the nest cradle was causing problems with heat loss, any later start date would be welcome.

I arrived late to a calm evening on Fifth Avenue.  I was able to take a few pictures of the female, but saw nothing exciting.

Some field marks to tell these two hawks apart…

On Saturday, I got to see a great deal of Pale Male and his new mate.  She’s being called lots of things, Pale Beauty, Pearl and Paula, but until there is some consensus, I’ll be calling her Pale Female.

Pale Male caught a pigeon.  He plucked it, eat some of it and then called for Pale Female.  She eat it, and when she had finished, called him to eat the remains. 

Later, she was on a “Linda Building” (920 Fith Avenue, two buildings south of the nest building) window railing, when he arrived with another snack.  Having both just eaten, he cached the bird on their nest, and returned to the railing where they copulated.

They sat together for about half an hour, before Pale Male left and went to roost on a tree at the bottom of Pilgrim Hill.  She however remained on the railing and was still there when I left the part at 7 p.m.

As we get to know the new female, each of the 5th Avenue bird watchers were sharing tips about how to tell the two birds apart.  His white/light brown throat vs. her dark  throat.  Her droplet like chest spots vs. his oak leaf patterned barred vertical strips.  Her broken tail feather and lighter tail.  His two missing primary wing tips.  I’m sure we’ll find more, but I think most of us are starting to find it easier to tell them apart.

After the failed nests of the last years, we have a new variable.  Will the nest work with a new female, or not?  We’ll know in a few months.