Category: Other Red-tailed Hawks

Other Red-tailed Hawks

Prospect Park, Brooklyn

I asked Rob Jett, who has one of the best birding blogs on the Internet, City Birder, if he would give directions to the Prospect Park nest.  He said sure, but that he would need to take me in person.

Once he took me, I understood why.  There are only two small windows, from two locations to see the nest.  The nest is in the center of this photograph.
One eyas was partially visible when we arrived.
We went to the alternate viewing location and couldn’t see any activity, so we returned to the original spot.
There are two eyasses on the nest.  One on the far left partially obscured by the large branch and a second eyas on the right.
Here the eyas on the left has moved slightly, and the one on the right has its eye closed.
City nests on buildings are looking more and more wonderful everyday.  These tree nests are too hard to photograph!
Another shot of the duo.
A solo shot of the one that had been on the right.

These two eyasses bring the eyasses I’ve seen in person and photographed to 14 for the season!  All on one Metrocard.

Location        No.
Inwood Hill2
Highbridge Park3
St. John the Divine3
Astoria Park, Queens2
Green-Wood, Brooklyn2
Prospect Park, Brooklyn2
 14 Total
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Green-Wood on Memorial Day

Green-Wood commemorated their fallen Civil War soldiers on Memorial Day.  They are in the midst of a research and restoration project to provide new tombstones for their Civil War soldiers buried in the Cemetery.

Canons and gun fire would startle the Red-tails later in the morning.  Both parents took up positions to keep an eye on the crowd.  The military section of the cemetery is very close to the nest.
I forgot to take a wide shot of the nest yesterday.  It is in the tree in the middle of the photograph.  The cemetery welcomes birders, but I was reminded that one should respect the primary purpose of the cemetery.  This includes leaving an area, if anyone seems uncomfortable.
A tighter shot of the nest.  If you look closely, you’ll see an eyas standing.
The nest has a great view being on a high hill, but it looks to be a bit sunny.
The mother in a tree about 100 feet away from the nest.
A photograph to show wing development.
The first canon shot startles the mother and she returns to a perch at the top of the nest tree.
What are you doing up there Mom?
A Northern Mockingbird.
The hawks get used to the noise and visitors.  This must be a big change from what must be a very quite location.
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Green-Wood

I went to Green-Wood Cemetery for the first time on Sunday.  It looks like a great place for a Red-tailed Hawk family.

Big Mama on her nest.
Junior trying to raid a nest while being harassed by a Mockingbird.
The Mockingbird was relentless and Junior moved on.
Junior is Big Mama’s new mate, not one of the young ones, by the way.
A close up of Big Mama’s very light eyelids.  I thought they were lighter than I had remembered other Red-tails having, but I reviewed some old photographs and they’re the same as other Red-tails.
Her kids have them too.
The nest has two chicks.
While we were there a Turkey Vulture passed through.  Both parents were quick to fly off and escort the Vulture out of the area.
The Turkey Vulture leaving the area!
They eyasses finally wake up and become active.
Big Mama returns to a nearby tree.
Before returning to the nest.
Other Red-tailed Hawks

A Second Day in Astoria Park

My second day in Astoria Park started out slow on a hot sunny afternoon.  The eyasses were asleep and I couldn’t find the parents.  I took a walk around the park, and when I returned to the track, the mother was on a lighting fixture.

Soon the father arrived and landed briefly on a light fixture on the opposite side of the track.  He soon left and went at least ten blocks south.
The mother stayed on the light fixture. 

I tried to track the adult male, but lost him and returned to the nest.

I found the eyasses alone, but unlike before they were active.
They try a few wing flaps before falling over.
The mother returns.
Feeding begins.
Note the foot on the end of that chunk of meat.
This piece is a little too big.
The mother moves it around and tears of chunks for the eyasses.  At one point both eyasses fight over the same piece.
Soon the eyasses settle down and within minutes are back to sleep, and I return to Manhattan.
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Astoria Park, Queens, New York

On Thursday, I followed up on a report from Jules Corkery (via Marie Winn’s blog) of a new Red-tailed Hawk nest in Astoria Park, on the Triborough Bridge.  I can confirm that there are two photogenic eyasses at the site.

The nest is located on the southern side of the Astoria portion of the bridge. The nest is easily accessible via public transportation. Astoria Park site is a short walk from the second to the last stop on the N/W subway line.  Except for the stairs up and down the elevated line, it is a nice flat six block walk.

Take the N or W to the Astoria Blvd. stop, exit to Hoyt Avenue South and walk towards the river.  At 21st Street is the entrance to Astoria Park, walk in and go to the middle of the tennis courts.  Look over to the bridge.  You’ll see a large concrete structure that anchors the suspension cables.  On the right corner below the roadway you’ll see the nest on a large drain pipe.

When I first arrived at the nest, I went right under it.  Within ten minutes of photographing the nest, a Police Officer threatened to give me a summonses for taking pictures.   Under current regulations while on MTA Bridge property, photography is prohibited.  I was very near the nest, so I may have been on MTA property when I was threatened with a summons.

However, it seems that photographing the bridge from public property is perfectly legal, so taking pictures from within Astoria Park would be perfectly fine. 

The ACLU has a suit against the city pending about ambiguous policies toward photographers.  It seems that the department has ambiguous policies which led to the accidental harassment of photographers.  I think my situation was similar to the problems birders have been having with scopes on tripods in city parks.  It’s too bad well meaning Police Officers are stepping over the line, due to ambiguous policies and poor training.

I’m going to be careful while in Astoria and keep my 500mm lens out of sight of the guard station.  I understand the paranoia in these post 9/11 times, but I thought we lived in the USA and not the old USSR!

The nest is next to a pigeon roost.  Imagine your meals flying by every few minute!
The kids were asleep when I arrived.
Two sleeping eyasses.
One perks up.
A preening eyas on the left.
The adult female flies off toward the Astoria Park track.
She’s impressive.  Note the light color of her eyes.
She does some half-hearted hunting on the underside of the bridge.
She scrapes her beak on a railing when she returns.
She flies off to a stadium light on the other side of the track.
She then returns to the nest.
Where she is greeted by two young ones.
Other Red-tailed Hawks, St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Red-tailed Hawk nests are the order of the day in New York City this year.  I think we have at least ten confirmed nests.  In the next few weeks, we should have lots of babies all through the city.  I’m going on vacation but will be back in time for some Red-tail babies.

Beyond my reporting there are lots of excellent websites in New York with news of Red-tail nests.

Rob Jett’s City Birder blog has news of two nests in Brooklyn and news via Chris Lyons of hawks in the Bronx.

Robert B. Schmunk’s Bloomingdale Village blog has been keeping tabs on the Cathedral Church of St. John hawks and other hawks in Central Park.

Jeffrey Kollbrunner’s website has news of a pair of hawks in Queens.

And if you’re into Peregrine Falcons Ben Cacace blog, NYC Nova Hunter has been keeping track of a pair on Park Avenue and the 55 Water Street webcam is back online.

Plus, James O’Brien’s The Origin of Species blog has news of American Kestrel, Peregrine and Hawk in midtown and Harlem.

Pale Male on Sunday