Category: Other Red-tailed Hawks

Other Red-tailed Hawks

Flushing Meadows

On Sunday afternoon, I went to the Unisphere.  Only one eyas was on the nest.  I saw both parents, but none of the fledglings. 

One of the parents on top of the globe.
The single remaining eyas on the nest.
The parents can watch the sorrounding area and the nest at the same time from this high spot.  I also saw for the first time the mother fly to the nest from the top of the globe through the hollow center of the sphere rather than around it.
I saw both parents circle the area between the globe and the NY Pavilion. 
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Unisphere

I learned more about the history of the Unisphere nest.  The pair has been at the location for at least five years according to a parks employee.  The nest has changed locations, having been on the towers of the NY State pavilion and another location in earlier years.  The nest was also on the Unisphere last year, and one of the chicks fell out prematurely and was sent to a rehabilitater but did not survive.

The fledgling hanging out.  It isn’t shy enough yet and a family tried to feed it potato chips!
An American Robin decided to give it a hard time for about 45 minutes.
The robin would not stop!
The eyasses woke up and then were very active.  I got a report from Richard Fleisher that earlier in the day, one of the young ones had ventured all the way to New Zealand.  Should we call branching behavior “globe hopping” at this location?
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Red-tailed Hawks Take Over The Globe!

In Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, Red-tailed Hawks have nested in the Unisphere, a 12-story high globe created for the 1964-1965 World’s Fair.

I didn’t know this when I went to Queens this evening however.  This is the story…

I received an email this morning that a fledgling Red-tailed Hawk had been wandering on the ground and the benches of Flushing Meadows Park.  The letter went on to detail that someone had arranged to put the fledgling in a high tree branch to get it off the ground and in a safer spot.  News like this gets me on the next subway train after my work day is over!
I arrived in Queens and walked to the Unisphere.  I spotted a parent on the top of the globe.  I thought the parents would be near the fledgling in a tree, but would soon find out this hawk was in just the right spot.
The parent, who I think is the female.
I soon heard a group of noisy Robins and Blue Jays and went to take a look.  I found a shy fledgling trying to stay out of sight.
It got fed up with the Robins and Blue Jays and moved about the tree.  It did a good job of jumping and branching.  I didn’t get to see it fly.  It may have fledged a few days too early.
I then saw the parent on the Unisphere and then something caught my eye.
A nest.  A nest on the unofficial icon of Queens.  A nest on the Unisphere!
There were two eyasses on the nest.  This brings my count of Red-tailed Hawk babies to 22 for the season, all visited by Metrocard.
They look close to fledging age.
Then both parents arrived.  One would quickly fly nearby and then off toward the Tennis Complex, and the other would stay and feed the eyasses.
The parent who left quickly, who may be the male.
The other parent feeds an eyas.
Once the feeding is over the parent moves to the other side of the globe.
The nest from the outside view.  It is a third from the left, just above Indonesia.
The light begins to fade, so I return to Manhattan.
Other Red-tailed Hawks

McCarren Park, Brooklyn

I went to McCarren Park in Brooklyn today to follow up a report sent to Rob Jett from a friend who plays baseball in the park. 

Within minutes of arriving, I found this hawk on lights for the baseball field.  It made a hunting attempt across the street.  (The 36 acre park is divided up into strips with north/south streets going through the park.)
It ended on a low branch perfect for taking portraits.
It then flew off and I lost track of it.
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Briarwood, Queens

I visited the Briarwood, Queens nest today. It still had one eyass on the nest and a fledgling exploring nearby.  The mother was visible, but I didn’t see the father.  This was my first visit to the location.

These two bring my count for Red-tailed Hawk youngsters to 19 for the season.  Wow!  Red-tails are doing wonderfully this season.  Briarwood also marks my first fledgling sighting of the season.

For more about these hawks and their history, visit Jeffrey Kollbrunner’s Nature Gallery.

The Audubon web camera is on the left and the nest on the right.
The mother.
The eyas that remains on the nest.
The eyas looks ready to fledge.
I didn’t expect to be able to find the fledgling, but out of the blue, it appeared within twenty feet of the nest.
I had expected to have a hard time.  The area surrounding the nest includes a few highways.  Usually, if all else fails, you can hear a fledgling beg for food.  In this location however, hearing the fledgling will be difficult because of all the traffic noise.
The fledgling in a tree.  It jumped/flapped awkwardly from branch to branch.  It still has lot of learning to do.
I lost the fledgling for about fifteen minutes and then rediscovered it by accident.
It did something very frightening.  It explored the razor wire.
I was so worried, but did my best to stay still and calm.  I didn’t want to startle it and cause it to injure itself.
It looked caught for a few long seconds, but did a good job maneuvering.
I just hope once was enough.  I don’t want to watch this again.
Luckily, it soon moved to a much safer place.
If there was a caption writing contest, I’m sure the winner would be “Mom, why aren’t we on the dollar bill?”
To a long and happy life, youngster!