Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

Riverside Church Action

I arrived at the church to absolute quiet. I didn’t see any of the falcons. But after about ten minutes, I got to see three young falcons on the nest, and then two food deliveries.

I also saw the parents try to get the fledglings to chase after them in order to get prey the parents were holding.

Much to my surprise I spotted a domestic pigeon on the church tower. I wasn’t the only one who spotted it. A parent went after the pigeon, missed getting it on the building but then gave chase. I wasn’t able to see the outcome, but I would don’t think it was positive for the pigeon.

Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

Food Fight at NYAC and a Visit to Christopher Columbus

On my way home from Riverside Church, I visited the NYAC family. They were using trees just inside the park, west of 7th Avenue. One was eating and a sibling tried to take some of the food, resulting in a food fight. It was a bit unnecessary as the mother brought in additional food later on.

We got to see the whole family, as they all ended up perching in just a few trees.

At the end of the evening, the mother ended up flying to Columbus Circle and perched on the foot of Christopher Columbus.

Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

Riverside Church Peregrine Falcons

After visiting the 102nd Street and Riverside Drive Red-tailed Hawk, I took the M5 bus up to Riverside Church. I was greeted by the sounds of five hungry Peregrine Falcons. One of the parents brought food just as I arrived and then two more times. All the prey looked to be feral Rock Pigeons.

After about thirty minutes, much to my surprise there was a fledgling on a lower level of the church tower at the same level as the roof. (It didn’t seem to be banded like the other young birds. Maybe it avoided capture earlier in the season.) At first I wasn’t sure if it was a fledgling or had just fallen out down from the nest but soon I saw it flying. It flew very well and went to a spot just below the nest.

The parents have a ledge where they prepare pigeons to be eaten by their offspring. They remove the wings and remove larger feathers. While a parent was doing this, the fledgling took the food from the adult.

The action should only get better later this week. When everyone has fledged there will be a few days of food exchanges and all kinds of fun. I would recommend making a visit if you live on the Upper West Side.