Urban Hawks

April 8, 2007December 17, 2020Owls

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.

April 8, 2007December 21, 2020Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

Peregrine Falcons on Sunday

I continued to study the Peregrines on Park Avenue for an hour on Sunday. Both were on opposite corners of an eastern face of a building on the west side of Park Avenue. One was eating on the north corner and the other was hanging out on the south corner. The one eating then moved to the Mutual of America building.

April 7, 2007December 16, 2020Owls

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!

April 7, 2007December 21, 2020Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey

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.

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.

April 7, 2007December 21, 2020Other Birds

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.

April 6, 2007December 16, 2020Owls

Friday, April 6th

Jean, Lee, Noreen and I watched the fly out. All three owls were in the cavity. The fledgling flew out early and had to deal with two alarmed Robins, who made a racket around it. After all three flew out, they went northeast. One adult stayed behind for a awhile. They then were in the area near the two pine trees the owls used two years ago. We heard more calling and the owls went across the drive.