Leucistic White-throated Sparrow
The Ravine in Central Park had a Leucistic White-throated Sparrow today. It was like a poor man’s Snow Bunting.
More 93rd and Central Park West Hawks
Today, right after I arrived at the nest, the male appeared to join the female on the nest. He didn’t stay long, as he quickly took off to deal with an intruder. I still can’t figure out if we have eggs yet.
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.
93rd and Central Park West Hawks
The adult female has been spending time in the Wild West Playground nest at 93rd and Central Park West. When she’s in the nest she’s barely visible. Red-tailed Hawk females often spend time on the nest before they’ve laid their eggs, so given that it’s early March, I don’t think she has eggs just yet. When we start to see exchanges between the male and the female, we’ll know for sure that eggs have been laid.
When I visited the nest on Sunday, the female was just barely visible on the nest except for two times when she got up to rearrange herself. The male visited with a half eaten pigeon, but the female didn’t get off the nest to eat it. He left quickly to dealt with an intruder over the tennis courts and the North Meadow.
I’ve received reports that the New York Athletic Club pair at Central Park South and Seventh Avenue is active again this year with the pair working on the nest in January and February.
The San Remo pair as still around, but given their track record we only have a small chance they’ll return to nesting in trees and will be successful breeding again.
With the death of Pale Male and the abandonment of the Cardinal Cooke/Museum of the City of New York Nests much of the eastern half of the park and the North Woods is available for new pairs to establish nests. I’m hoping to be surprised by reports of a new pair in the park this season.
Amelia’s New Mate
Laura Goggin reported on her blog that Amelia, the female hawk of the Tompkins Square Park nest has a new mate. She wrote a wonderful piece that was a factual explanation of what had happened, combined with an honest expression of her sadness and loss, as well as her love for Christo for over 11 years. It was a wonderful remembrance of him.
Hawks can replace their mates in just a day or two. Sadly, this gives hawk watchers no time to grieve the loss of the previous mate.
After reading the news, I stopped by the park on my way home from Governors Island. Amelia was in a tree near the nest, and the new male came into a few trees 100 feet away from her. After about 15 minutes he went to Amelia and they copulated. Soon thereafter both of them left the park.
The video and most of the pictures are of the new male, the second to last is Amelia, and the last is a post-coital picture of the pair.
Pine Warbler
During this week’s cold snap and snow, a Pine Warbler has been consistently showing up at the feeders in the Evodia field in Central Park. It’s a nice bright bird and very cooperative, eating mostly at either of the two suet feeders.
