I made two detour before visiting Central Park today. First, I saw the nest that had been partially built on the St. Regis Hotel. It’s on the high floor in the northern most oval window facing Fifth Avenue.
Then to went to see if the 310 West 72nd Street nest was active. It was and the female was sitting on the nest and the male escorted a balloon out of the territory.
The action I saw today, was a parent and a fledgling, up and down West End Avenue from 70th to 76th Street, on building on both the west and east side of the street. I believe the fledgling I was watching was the second one to leave the nest.
The young fledglings and their father spent time on 310 West 72nd Street, 263 West End Avenue, the rear of 269 West 72 Street, the rear of 253 72 Street, and 253 West 73rd Street while I watched them this evening.
The parents and fledglings may still be using the nest for feedings, because I keep seeing the fledglings return to the nest.
The real fun of the evening was to see the fledglings cross West End Avenue and end up on the rear of 253 72 Street. A pair of Northern Mockingbirds and later a pair of Blue Jays, started to harass one of the fledgling. The father quickly came in and allowed himself to be attacked and pulled the attacking birds away from the fledgling. I’ve seen this behavior at lots of nests, and I enjoy watching the protective instincts of the parents.
Just like yesterday, the eyasses look healthy and seem to have enough experience flying and landing that they should do well when the parents bring them to trees and lawns nearby. The real question is, will it be the Lincoln Towers area or Riverside Park.
Things started slowly on 72nd Street. One parent was high up on 220 Riverside Boulevard and I saw a parent on 70th Street, east of West End Avenue and then at the bottom of Riverside Drive. But no fledglings.
Then out of the blue, one of them was on the ledge where the nest is. I thought, I know both of them have fledged. Was I wrong? It didn’t take long to find out the answer. The fledgling had only made a brief stop on the nest and it made a strong flight across the street.
When I turned the corner to see where it went, both fledglings were on 263 West End Avenue, which is on the NW corner of 72nd Street and West End Avenue.
For over 30 minutes the two hawks explored the terraces and balconies of the East and South facades of the building.
In all my years trying to study these hawks, this is the first time I’ve seen a fledgling at this nest!
I wasn’t able to find the fledglings from 310 West 72nd Street, but I did see both of the parents on top of 220 Riverside Boulevard. They were being harassed by two Northern Mockingbirds that have a nest on a penthouse at 71st and West End Avenue. The rotation of songs sung by one of the Northern Mockingbirds includes an American Kestrel call which confused me to no end until I figured out who was singing it.
I suspect the two fledglings are on top of the roofs of be buildings near the nest.
From my perspective, there still seems to be an eyass that hasn’t fledged yet on 72nd Street, but it isn’t clear if it might have left briefly and then returned. In any case, it was hidden on Friday afternoon, but appeared after a parent landed on the building’s water tank.
I also heard the fledgling cry from one of the nearby building roofs briefly. So, I think everyone is accounted for after yesterday’s big adventure.
This has got to be the hardest nest in Manhattan to follow, but it’s been fun to have something to study it this year!
