Category: Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

86th and WEA Peregrine Falcons, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

More West End Avenue

After two visits without seeing the Peregrine Falcons at 86th and West End Avenue, I had good luck today. The banded female was on the north side of 530 West End Avenue, perched on a railing on the top floor. After about twenty minutes, the male arrived and ate a Rock Pigeon on 257 West 86th Street. After the male was done with the meal it moved the tower of St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church. When I left, the female had not moved and was still on 530 West End Avenue.

86th and WEA Peregrine Falcons, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

86th Street and West End Avenue Peregrine Falcons

I finally went in search of the Peregrine Falcons that have been seen on the West Side around 86th and West End Avenue. When I arrived, I heard them and found one perched on the St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church’s tower. Then its mate arrived with prey, and perched on the SW corner of 257 West 86th Street. After the prey was eaten, the falcon that was on the church, flew to 257 West 86th Street and perched a few floors down from the other falcon. Then when I was distracted both flew off and I couldn’t relocate them.

One of the two hawks in banded. On its left leg, there is a bicolored Black over Green band with white lettering of 77 above and BV below. The right leg has a traditional silver Federal USGS bird band ending in 768.

Update: I’ve received some information. Someone responded to this post on my Urban Hawks Facebook page that the band 77/BV is from Du Bois Library, at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a link to a photo of when she was banded in 2019.

2nd Update: A female juvenile Peregrine Falcon was found trapped in a courtyard at 522 West End Avenue (between 85th and 86th Street), earlier this year. (This is a common problem in NYC, as young birds follow Rock Pigeons into tight spaces, and can’t fly out.) Its parents/scrape could not be found, so the bird was sent to the Wild Bird Fund, and then out to the Raptor Trust in New Jersey. The juvenile was banded with a standard USGS band: 1947-45321 and a Black/Green auxiliary band BA/42. So, the adults seen a few days ago may have been parents earlier this year.

Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

El Dorado Peregrines

The El Dorado Peregrine Falcons have been very active over the last week. I caught up with them over the last few days. It was great to find some new perches and a feeding spot on 88th Street I hadn’t noticed before.

If and where this pair has been breeding is unknown. There were reports of a pair further west this year, and a young bird was found from an unknown nest on the Upper West Side earlier this year, so it is possible that this pair is nesting a few blocks to the west. However, the mystery hasn’t been solved as of yet.

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

Late July, Early August

I’ve been birding on and off in the last two weeks, usually without a camera. It’s a quiet time with the first signs of fall migration just beginning. (I had two American Redstarts and a Northern Waterthrush yesterday.)

I have shot some snippets of what I’ve been seeing including:

  • Central Park’s resident Barred Owl who has stayed longer than anyone expected, about 10 months at this point.
  • The fledgling on Governor’s Island who is now a fantastic flier, exploring the island with ease.
  • Laughing Gulls on Central Park’s Reservoir. While they aren’t rare in the NYC area, it was a fun surprise to see them in the park.
  • One of the El Dorado Peregrine Hawks eating dinner.
  • Pale Male looking a bit scruffy, as he is molting.
Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

American Kestrels on top of Greenwich House

On Barrow Street in Greenwich Village is a building called Greenwich House. I got an email that an Adult Red-tailed Hawks and a fledgling had been there for five days. So, of course I made a visit.

When I arrived I saw an adult pair of American Kestrels and one juvenile female. It’s unclear if I just didn’t see the Red-tailed Hawks, my timing was off or if there had been an I.D. problem. Hopefully, I’ll have a chance to have a few more looks to figure out what’s up.