Category: 927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Looking Good

I made a brief visit to the newly refurbished 5th Avenue nest of Pale Male and Lola on Saturday.  Everything seemed like normal on a mid-winter day.  Lola and Pale Male are now spending much more time near the nest and are protecting the neighborhood.  While I was there, they chased off a juvenile Red-tail and an Accipiter pair.

Both Pale Male and Lola visited the nest.  Lola settled down into the nest and was impossible to see.  I think she can now settle in a little deeper.

Pale Male doing an inspection…
…during a brief five minute visit.
Lola, I think, landing on a building a few blocks north of the nest site.
Pale Male on his favorite 960 Fifth Avenue window.
Pale Male on the “Linda” building, which is about two blocks south of the nest on 5th Avenue.
Pale Male above and Lola below over 5th Avenue around 78th Street.

James Lewis, who has been keeping track of the dates of Pale Male’s yearly nest activities, has the first event, first copulation as anywhere between 1/26 and 3/5.  So keep an eye out for the first signs of Spring!

927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Pale Male and Lola’s Nest

On Tuesday, NYC Audubon refurbished the nest at 927 Fifth Avenue.  72 pigeon spikes were removed, as well as three eggs.  After three unsuccessful years, Pale Male and Lola will have a much better chance of having a successful nesting season this Spring.

I have the highest respect for the staff and board members of NYC Audubon, who undertook this project.  The refurbishment required research and consultation with scientific experts, getting permission to modify the nest from the Co-Op board and government officials, and extensive and expensive technical planning and execution.

NYC Audubon usually focuses on education and conservation activities in New York City.  To have focused on such a specific issue must have caused lots of discussion at board meetings.  Kudos to Executive Director, Glenn Phillips, for having the courage to take on this important issue.

NYC Audubon is in the midst of its Annual Appeal for 2008.  I encourage everyone to make a donation to NYC Audubon to thank them for helping Pale Male and Lola. 

927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey, Other Birds, Other Red-tailed Hawks

Sunday Around The Great Lawn

Lola was on the Beresford when I looked for her early on Sunday afternoon.

She was looking down at something, so I went to look for it.  I was hoping for a Long-Eared Owl, but found this…
…young hawk.
I then saw Pale Male at the bottom of the Great Lawn.  He switched trees a few times.
Here he’s taking off to fly to another tree.
A scratch.
We had a number of “intruders”, including a Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel and this Turkey Vulture.
Pale Male on one of the baseball backstops.
Pale Male on the MET.
Pale Male was found to be on his favorite MET security camera.  He soon flew off, towards Turtle Pond.
While watching for owls, the first year hawk came by.
It ended up in a tree for the night in what I call the DMZ.  The zone between the Central Park South hawks and Pale Male and Lola.
Enjoy the winter in Central Park, but remember you’re going to be kicked out come spring by the old folks!