Urban Hawks

March 11, 2007December 21, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Fifth Avenue Brooding Begins

Lola’s brooding behavior has started. Since there’s no direct view of the nest, it’s hard to know if the eggs have been laid yet. But she’s sure acting like she has.

March 11, 2007December 21, 2020Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

Say it isn’t so…

It look like the Central Park South nest has definitely been moved to 888 Seventh Avenue. Or should we say into 888 Seventh Avenue.

This will prevent us from keeping a close eye on the nest. Hopefully eyasses will pop out later this year!

Later one of the hawks on the Essex House sign.

March 10, 2007December 21, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks, Other Red-tailed Hawks

Saturday Hawks

On Saturday, I went to see Pale Male and our 86th Street hawk.

Pale Male was in a tree off the East Drive, having a late lunch.

He then moved to a tree on the path that goes west of the Boat House. After ten minutes, he moved north, making lots of circles to gain height. I lost him as he moved above 79th Street.

After a stop on the Reservoir, which had gulls, geese, American Coots, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads and an American Crow, it was off to see our 86th Street Hawk.

Two interlopers arrived. One Red-tailed Hawk, which I didn’t photograph went west at about 96th Street. This hawk, who may have been chasing the first hawk out of its territory, landed on the south tower of El Dorado…

Before taking off, going down Central Park South, before heading back west at around 83rd. There are reports of four Red-tailed being seen on Riverside Drive. I wonder if we have a pair or two, either here for the winter or who are planning on nesting on the west side?

I wouldn’t doubt that this spring, there is a new nesting pair discovered in Manhattan, either by Gracie Mansion, in Highbridge Park, or along Riverside Drive.

Our 86th Street hawk moved around a bit, but seemed undisturbed by the two visiting hawks.

She stayed in a tree near the West Drive as it got too dark to continue to photograph.

March 3, 2007December 25, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks, Other Birds, Other Red-tailed Hawks, Southern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks, St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Saturday Marathon

I ran all around New York City on Sunday. Although spring hasn’t officially arrived, the city’s hawks are quite busy.

First stop was 888 Seventh Avenue. I saw both CPS Red-tailed hawks flying around 888 Seventh, but they both went past it. I found them on 1740 Broadway. It’s great to see them being so urban, but watching them this season is going to be tough.

Then it was off to the Cathedral Church of St. John to see how the Red-tailed Hawk pair was doing up north. The female of the pair was checking out the nest, which looks nicely refurbished.

I went back to the nest later in the afternoon and saw the male of the pair soaring over Morningside Park.

The female Red-tail left the nest and went in the direction of the projects at 103rd, so I walked down to see if she was on the Fredrick Douglas Houses. No luck finder her, but since the Monk Parakeets were in the neighborhood, I walked west.

The Monk Parakeet pair was busy ripping the nest apart. James O’Brien, who had joined me for part of the afternoon, thought it was spring cleaning, since many of the sticks lying on 103rd were full of feathers and poop. I got a note from Rebekah Creshkoff who reports seeing a third Parakeet near the nest an hour earlier. So, it might be possible that a second couple is moving in. Another early spring mystery.

After lunch, I went to see the Red-headed Woodpecker at Morningside Drive and 92nd Street. While I was there, two Red-tailed Hawks flew overhead.

Pale Male was on a 5th Avenue railing, He made a swift dive after a pigeon, failed to catch it, and went over to his favorite security camera on the Met.