St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks Archives - Page 21 of 28

July 23, 2006December 20, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Sunday Afternoon at Morningside Park

On Sunday afternoon, the weather cleared and I made a visit to Morningside Park. The two fledglings were found playing with sticks at the southern edge of the park. Stick play is common for fledglings of this age and prepares them for hunting and killing prey.

The fledglings moved from tree to tree along 110th Street and lower Morningside Drive for over an hour. Although, we didn’t witness any feedings there was a large pile of fresh pigeon feathers beneath a tree near the southern children’s play area.

July 22, 2006December 20, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

St. John Fledgling

On late Saturday afternoon, there was a break between rain storms to go up to St. John the Divine. The fledglings are now good fliers, so finding them is difficult. I found one at the top of a tree 20 feet inside Morningside park, east of the nest site on the Cathedral.

While looking for the second fledgling, I saw one of the fledglings, not sure which one, soaring from 110th Street up to 118th Street above Morningside Drive. It was an impressive sight.

Last year, the Central Park South fledglings learned to hunt before they took off and started to soar high with their father staying close by. So, I wasn’t expecting to see a high flying St. John the Divine fledgling flying this high so early on. I keep being reminded that each nest and fledgling is different.

July 16, 2006December 20, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Sunday in Morningside Park

Sunday, I went up to Morningside Park for about an hour around 7 p.m. I found Robert Schmunk, who blogs at bloomingdalevillage.blogspot.com with one of the fledglings at the base of the stairs that go up to 113th and Morningside Drive. The fledgling was only about 20 feet off the ground.

The wings are outstretched to help the hawk stay cool in the summer heat.

Now that we’re birding in the lower portion of the park, we’re meeting new folks from the neighborhood. They’re beginning to get to know us and have begun to help us find the young hawks. Tonight, a kind gentleman pointed out the second fledgling in a willow tree over the small pond in the park.

The pond, which is smaller than an Olympic sized swimming pool, supports an amazing array of wildlife. Tonight it had a family of Geese, two Double-Crested Cormorants, a first year Black-Crowned Night Heron, and a few mallards.

Soon the hawk in the willow flies south to join its sibling over by the steps that led up to the Cathedral.

After a few minutes both hawks move east. One flies low and then goes over the fence at the east side of the park. The other lands in a tree just inside the park at 113th.

Robert and I both try and figure out where the young hawks have ended up. We’re unsuccessful and both call it a night and go home.

July 15, 2006December 20, 2020Other Birds, St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Friday at St. John the Divine

Early Friday evening, after a fruitless search for the fledglings, I got to see a Double-crested Cormorant catch a small catfish.

Just as I was about to give up and walk out of the park, I ran into a fledgling eating a pigeon just above the low west path that goes from 110th and Morningside Drive by the ball fields towards the pond.

July 11, 2006December 20, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Confident Fliers

My flight returned from Finland in time for me to spend the early evening up at Morningside Park.

One of the parents was on the Cathedral when I arrived around 7 p.m.

Donna Browne found one of the fledglings in a tree just inside the park, off Morningside Drive around 111th Street.

One fledgling protects the food from the other fledgling.

The behavior is playful and not at all aggressive.

Both fledglings are now confident fliers. When I left for vacation the younger bird had trouble gaining altitude and stayed close to the cathedral. They’re now much better fliers and have increased their range considerably.

They’re growing up but it still looks like their parents are feeding them. Hunting practice should begin soon. I’m also beginning to wonder when they’ll be venturing off to Central Park for a visit to the North Woods?

June 29, 2006December 20, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Wednesday Evening at the Cathedral

Both fledglings were on the Cathedral School when I arrived. Later one moved to a tree across Morningside Drive and the other moved to the scaffolding on the southern edge of the school.