I made two quick visits to the two Central Park nest location, 93rd/CPW and the NYAC. It was very quiet and I only could one fledgling at each location and the mother at 93rd/CPW.
This is typical as we move into June. The fledglings become harder and harder to locate.
I had a relaxed late afternoon/early evening with the NYAC fledglings and their father. One fledgling was relaxed in at tree, another on a lamp post and a third had dinner. The father watched over all of them.
I stopped by the NYAC family on my way home from Riverside Church and today was much like yesterday. The fledglings using trees and street lamps in the park west and north of Central Park South and Seventh Avenue.
One extraordinary things happened however. One of the parents seeing a squirrel attack one the fledglings, quickly caught it and carried it 100 feet away. The parent lost its grip on the squirrel when it landed and the squirrel fell 25 feet. The squirrel was able to climb up a tree, but kept close eye on the hawk until it flew off.
I arrived at the church to absolute quiet. I didn’t see any of the falcons. But after about ten minutes, I got to see three young falcons on the nest, and then two food deliveries.
I also saw the parents try to get the fledglings to chase after them in order to get prey the parents were holding.
Much to my surprise I spotted a domestic pigeon on the church tower. I wasn’t the only one who spotted it. A parent went after the pigeon, missed getting it on the building but then gave chase. I wasn’t able to see the outcome, but I would don’t think it was positive for the pigeon.
I only had about an hour after dinner to watch the NYAC hawks. They’re still staying together just inside the park and I got to see the whole family. The fledglings are getting comfortable flying from tree to tree and they were very active late in the evening.
On my way home from Riverside Church, I visited the NYAC family. They were using trees just inside the park, west of 7th Avenue. One was eating and a sibling tried to take some of the food, resulting in a food fight. It was a bit unnecessary as the mother brought in additional food later on.
We got to see the whole family, as they all ended up perching in just a few trees.
At the end of the evening, the mother ended up flying to Columbus Circle and perched on the foot of Christopher Columbus.
