While Flaco has been out of the park these last few months, where and how he has been hunting has been a mystery. He has been roosting in courtyards full of rodents, but he’s also been seen going into Central Park late in the evening, so where and what he was hunting has been uncertain. There were one or two occasions where he was spotted eating a rat, but those of us observing him haven’t seen him hunting.

So, it was quite a surprise when I saw him with a dead bird on Monday evening. The head had already been removed and the wings torn off, but it was most likely a Rock Pigeon. It would be easy for Flaco to take a roosting pigeon off a building ledge. It is probably easier, than hunting moving rats on the ground.

What’s unclear is how long he has been eating birds. I don’t think anyone has been collecting his pellets since he left the park. Pigeons could easily have been added to his diet, anytime since he left Central Park.

When Flaco was in the Central Park Zoo, the staff tried to diversify his diet, but he would only eat rats. So, his eating a bird is yet another milestone in Flaco’s life outside of the zoo. But it increases concerns that he might begin predating on nesting hawks and falcons.

Flaco, carried the prey around the area, hooting away. He’s also done this with rats in Central Park. I suspect his instincts are not only to hoot for any potential mate, but to also show that he’s a good provider. Late in the evening, Flaco settled down and ate the bird.

Rock Pigeons are safer than rodents caught in courtyards, but not perfectly safe. They carry Frounce, a form of trichomoniasis, which can be transmitted to raptors when consumed. Untreated it is often fatal for raptors. Frounce has been a problem for many Red-tailed Hawks in NYC. Pigeons can also have high lead levels.