Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Red-tailed Hawk nests are the order of the day in New York City this year.  I think we have at least ten confirmed nests.  In the next few weeks, we should have lots of babies all through the city.  I’m going on vacation but will be back in time for some Red-tail babies.

Beyond my reporting there are lots of excellent websites in New York with news of Red-tail nests.

Rob Jett’s City Birder blog has news of two nests in Brooklyn and news via Chris Lyons of hawks in the Bronx.

Robert B. Schmunk’s Bloomingdale Village blog has been keeping tabs on the Cathedral Church of St. John hawks and other hawks in Central Park.

Jeffrey Kollbrunner’s website has news of a pair of hawks in Queens.

And if you’re into Peregrine Falcons Ben Cacace blog, NYC Nova Hunter has been keeping track of a pair on Park Avenue and the 55 Water Street webcam is back online.

Plus, James O’Brien’s The Origin of Species blog has news of American Kestrel, Peregrine and Hawk in midtown and Harlem.

Pale Male on Sunday

Sunday, April 8th

On Easter Sunday the weather was cold, with snow flurries.  Jim, Marie, Jean and I saw all three owls.  They flew out ten minutes apart, first the fledgling followed by Trident and then Herringbone.  Jean sees the fledgling fly across the drive in advance of its parents.  So, we’re seeing some independence develop.  After the fly out, we left since it was so cold.

A Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was in the area at sunset along the North Meadow and then south of the 99th Street playground off Central Park West.

Trident
Fledgling
Fledgling
Fledgling
Fledgling
Fledgling
Fledgling
Trident with Herringbone behind
Trident
Fledgling
Fledgling
Fledgling
Fledgling
Trident
Trident
Trident
Trident
Trident
Herringbone
Herringbone
Herringbone
Herringbone

Saturday, April 7th

It might be April, but it was still cold. Jean and I braved 32 degree weather.  7:20 was the first pop-up of an owl in the hole.  Everything was normal until 7:35 when a Red-tailed Hawk flies within feet of the hole, carrying a rat.

We don’t see an owl in the hole until 8pm!  The larger of the two adults, Trident sits in hole and calls loudly for a long time.  We only see the parents leave hole, 8:10 (Trident) and 8:11 (Herringbone).  I wonder if they told the kid to stay home tonight!

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Park Avenue Peregrine Falcons, Part II

The Peregrine Falcon pair continue to perch on the buildings around the Waldorf-Astoria on Park Avenue.

On Friday, I saw both of them flying around the Mutual of America building, and saw one perch on the former GE building, which now belongs to Columbia University.  I was only able to get pictures of one of them on the top center of the Mutual of America building.

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On Saturday, I went looking for the Peregrines and didn’t find them.  Luckily, I ran into Ben Cacace, who showed me one in plain sight on the Mutual of America building.  Later that day, Ben found the pair copulating.  So, there may be little Peregrines on Park Avenue later this spring.

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Ring-necked Pheasant

A male Ring-necked Pheasant was reported by Starr Saphir and Lenore Swenson on Wednesday.  It was been staying in the area between Hernshead and Balcony Bridge, along the Lake.  It was still there on Saturday.  A new bird for my Central Park List.

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