North of the Ballfields Feeding And The Parents Perches

By D. Bruce YoltonSouthern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

I got to Central Park in the early evening after visiting Inwood Hill Park.  I had struck out trying finding the hawk family in Inwood, so I was hoping for better luck at the Heckscher Ballfields.

Our well looked after 888 Seventh Avenue fledgling. 
Relaxing north of the Baseball Fields.
One lone American Robin helped me find her.
The mother came and we saw the father fly north.  She left and returned with a pigeon.  It was hard to tell who actually caught the prey.
The mother left the food on branch, called for the youngster to come for dinner and left.
The parent then flew around the Time Warner Building in Columbus Circle. It was windy, and she gained speed and height quickly.
The mirrored building seems to fascinate this pair.  New York City Audubon has been working to minimize bird deaths from building collisions.  This spring they published an excellent guide for building owners and architects, Bird-Safe Building Guidelines, as part of their Project Safe Flightinitiative.
Here the mother rests on the new Zeckendorf building.
The fledgling’s dinner for tonight was a pigeon.
The fledgling’s dinner for tonight was a pigeon.
The parents are both efficient eaters, but this fledgling is still learning.
She was eating next to a Baseball dugout, and the team playing in Red uniforms were named the Hawks!
The mother on the roof of the new Zeckendorf buildings at 62nd and Central Park West.  This building didn’t exist two years ago, so we’re learning what’s changed this year.
Both parents ended up on near the roof of the N.Y.A.C. (New York Athletic Club).  This is the first time, I’ve seen them perching there.
The mother on the railing.

What a nice way to start the summer, with fledglings playing all over New York City.