I wanted to see a Green Heron that had been reported in The Loch, so I travelled light today. Just binoculars and a spotting scope. The scope turned out to be handy, as the Green Heron was high in a tree when I arrived, not near the water.
I visited the Wild West Playground nest on my way out of the park and spent about twenty minutes looking at the nest and took a few digiscoped pictures and videos.
The parents of the Wild West Playground were very relaxed this evening and felt comfortable leaving the nest for long periods of time. They also chasing away another Red-tailed Hawk, which is missing some tail feathers.
There was a feeding after sunset. The eyasses are easy to see during a feeding, but are hidden while they rest and sleep. But the best vantage point is far enough away that you really need a spotting scope to see them well.
Rather than limited looks at the eyasses on the nest at 93rd Street, today they were old enough to see that there were three. It was great to see them all and see both parents eager to feed them. Some males don’t do much feeding but this one at this nest loves doing so.
I went back to Governors Island on Sunday, and saw what things were like with “The Yard”, a playground was open. The kids were noisy, but ignored the hawks and the hawks ignored them. But as the kids get bigger, everyone should keep away from the nest to avoid getting pooped on!
There was a report of a child throwing things at the hawks and yelling for it to go away a few days ago. It might be best to close the play tower near the nest early June, when the hawks will have left the nest. The Yard is huge and closing off a small section wouldn’t be difficult.
The mother is banded, and I’ll send off her band number to the USGS in a few days.
On Saturday, two eyasses were visible. I saw two feedings, and saw that the male was helping with the feedings. There is a possibility the nest has three eyasses, but for now two are confirmed.
The Governors Island nest, which is above The Yard, a playground on the island, has two eyasses and seems to have hatched 7-10 days ago. I saw two visits from the male and two feedings late in the afternoon.
