Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

Baker Pavilion Peregrine Falcon Nest Box

On the 26th Floor ledge of Weill Cornell–New York Hospital’s Baker Pavilion is a Peregrine Falcon Nest Box. I’ve seen it on the NYC Bird Alliance cruises for members that explore the harbor in the past, but yesterday I thought it might be fun to see if I could watch it from Roosevelt Island. The box faces the East River and the Baker Pavilion is east of York Avenue at 68th Street.

It turns out you can easily watch it with a spotting scope, although you can’t see inside of it due to the angle.

One Peregrine Falcon was perched on the box when I arrived and made a few trips off the box before returning. At some point the falcon went inside the box and a falcon emerged soon thereafter. It was unclear if it was the same bird, or the falcons are already sitting on eggs and this was an exchange between two birds.

I’m looking forward to watching these birds later in the season.

Owls

Snowy Owl in December of 2024

I went to Governors Island in late December of 2024, hoping to find American Pipit and to see if the Horned Lark flock had stuck around couldn’t find either.

However, I did end up seeing one of my favorite species, a Snowy Owl. I was walking around the south lawn of Discovery Hill looking for pipits and heard a murder of American Crows. One of the crows was dive bombing something. Thinking it might be attacking a Red-tailed Hawk, I quickly ran to see what was being mobbed and was surprised to see a Snowy Owl instead! This was my third N.Y. County Snowy Owl, so I feel really blessed.

There had been a Snowy Owl reported at the Bayonne Golf Club course and the same day nearby at the Ocean Terminal in late November, and then in early December there was a photograph of one posted on social media, perched on top of a barge off Bay Ridge Brooklyn. I had looked for an owl during the Christmas Bird using my scope to look out at the ships and shoreline of Upper New York Harbor without any success and had given up any hope of seeing the owl on Governors Island.

It turns out after talking to some of the birders, who visit the island more frequently than I do, had seen the Snowy Owl on the island on and off since late November. Hats off to them for keeping a roosting owl under the radar. I believe I may have been the last person to see the owl on the island, as it wasn’t reported in January of 2025.

The owl was situated near some bushes and grasses growing which looked exactly like the habit you would see out at Jones Beach. I only had about ten minutes with the owl, before the crows flushed it from its roost. The owl flew west. I couldn’t keep track of it, as I was blocked by bushes on Discovery Hill, but I suspect it flew west off to New Jersey.

In January, a Snowy Owl was found in a few locations, near Liberty Island. I suspect we had the same owl exploring the Upper New York Harbor for a few months.

As I was leaving the area, I saw a rodent bait box which was disconcerting given the number of raptors on the island this winter.

(This post was delayed until I was sure the owl had left the area.)

Central Park Coyotes

A Central Park Coyote

I stumbled upon a sleeping Coyote in Central Park today, while looking for American Woodcocks who should start appearing in the next few weeks.

The Coyote was sleeping peacefully on a protected ridge and was well camouflaged in the leave litter. The animal slept peacefully until disturbed breifly by an off-leash dog. When it did leave after dusk, it left quickly through some underbrush and was quickly out of sight.

Central Park most likely has three coyotes at the moment, although the count could be higher. They’ve been in the park for the last few years and there have been no issues. Coyotes are very shy, and do their best to avoid contact with people. However, it is very important not to feed them. Once people begin to feed them they can become very agressive.