Sunday with the Central Park Fledgling

By D. Bruce YoltonSouthern Central Park Red-tailed Hawks

I only had an hour to visit the park on Sunday.  But I did get to see the 888 Fledgling. 

She was in a tree right next to a dugout.  Hundreds of park visitors waliked right past her.
She has a band on her right foot.  Banding has been done for over one hundred years in the United States.  It’s exciting that we finally have a banded fledgling in Manhattan.  If we could possibly band more of them, we might be able to figure out the habits of Red-tailed Hawks born in the city.  Do they end up in other urban areas?  Do they disperse for a season or two and then return after their “walkabout”?  It would be great to learn more about the habits of urban Red-tails. 
Although, the pure white feathers are fewer each day, there still is some pure white fluff.
A failed attempt at a squirrel.
Fun in a puddle.
She moved to a slightly safer spot.