Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

888 Seventh Avenue Update

The fledgling from the 888 Seventh Avenue nest is in the caring hands of Bobby Horvath.  Details of the fledglings troubles in the plaza of the Ziegfeld Theater, can be found on the websites of the various New York City newspapers.  A fledgling’s first few days on the ground can be full of troubles.

Bobby Horvath is a licensed rehabber and will do what is best for the fledgling.  He runs a rescue center on Long Island, Wildlife in Need of Rehab and Rescue, Inc.

His phone number has been placed on the www.palemale.com website along with some very negative and untrue statements about Mr. Horvath.  Please don’t harrass Mr. Horvath.  He’s got the best interests of the fledgling at heart.

Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

888 Seventh Avenue Fledge Report

News from Brett Odom

"Sometime between last night and this morning the eyas at 888 7th Avenue fledged.  I
have not been able to locate him as of yet from my office.  If any of you hear of
anything (good or bad) can you please either email me or post it on your blogs.
I’ve been reading them religiously this year.

Also, if there are any tips on how to locate fledged hawks, please pass them along
and I will keep an eye out for him from my window.

Regards,
Brett Odom"

James O’Brien passed along excellent advice to Brett in response to his question.

"Thats great news…he’s probably hanging out on top of a building!   The best way
to locate him is to look for the parents.  They will be bringing him/her
food, so when you see them with prey, they’ll be calling and circling trying
to lure the fledgling out.
"

Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

New York City Audubon Ecotour

New York City Audubon hosted an Ecotour of the East River on Tuesday.  Before the boat ride, I stopped by the Brooklyn Bridge.

On the bridge, you could hear chicks begging for food.  I waited for about twenty minutes and a parent poked its head out.
An Adult Peregrine Falcon.
The band reads 04, then 2 below.  I haven’t seen this type of band before.   Update: I received some emails about this band type.  It is used to supplement a Federal band, since it much easier to read. It is usually two digits and a letter, so it is most likely 04Z and not 042.
Then it was off on a NYC Water Taxi for a tour of the East River.
On a small island east of the U.N. is a Double-crested Cormorant nesting spot.
The Pepsi sign is in the background.
Peregrine Falcons also nest on New York Hospital.  The best view of them is from the river.  It was dark and I was on a moving boat, so the pictures aren’t the best.  Young ones are inside the nesting box.
Here you can see two on the left.  What I can’t make out is if there is a bird next to the nest box on the right.
A gull chick.
Brant, a small goose, which shouldn’t be hanging around New York in June.
Another Brant shot.
Below the gulls, is an American Oyster-Catcher.  A new bird for my life list.
One the way back, we made a detour to the Statue of Liberty.
Lower Manhattan.  Who would think there would be so much nature amid all your concrete and steel?
Red-tailed Hawk Nest Updates

Fledging Updates

Reports are coming from Donna Browne and Richard Schmunk about fledgings. 

Donna reports that the first fledge has occurred at Fordham University in the Bronx via her blog.

Robert also has a report of a first fledge at St. John the Divine on his blog.

These early days watching new fledglings can be lots of fun.  If you have a chance, visit either location and enjoy the experience.

The eyas on 888 Seventh Avenue should be fledging soon too.  Watch for it to fly to a nearby roof sometime over the next few days.   Keep an eye on Carnegie Hall.  This may be the first stop.

Other Red-tailed Hawks

Astoria Park

All was quiet when I arrived.  The eyasses were settling down after a feeding.

The mother keeps watch about 20 feet to the left of the nest.
One kid has already settled down and is joined by the second.  Hawk watching isn’t always exciting.
The biggest excitement of the evening was this Blue Jay who gives the mother a hard time.
So much so, that she moves…
…40 feet to the right of the nest.
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Flushing Meadows

On Sunday afternoon, I went to the Unisphere.  Only one eyas was on the nest.  I saw both parents, but none of the fledglings. 

One of the parents on top of the globe.
The single remaining eyas on the nest.
The parents can watch the sorrounding area and the nest at the same time from this high spot.  I also saw for the first time the mother fly to the nest from the top of the globe through the hollow center of the sphere rather than around it.
I saw both parents circle the area between the globe and the NY Pavilion.