Category: Other Red-tailed Hawks

Other Red-tailed Hawks

Astoria Park, Queens, New York

On Thursday, I followed up on a report from Jules Corkery (via Marie Winn’s blog) of a new Red-tailed Hawk nest in Astoria Park, on the Triborough Bridge.  I can confirm that there are two photogenic eyasses at the site.

The nest is located on the southern side of the Astoria portion of the bridge. The nest is easily accessible via public transportation. Astoria Park site is a short walk from the second to the last stop on the N/W subway line.  Except for the stairs up and down the elevated line, it is a nice flat six block walk.

Take the N or W to the Astoria Blvd. stop, exit to Hoyt Avenue South and walk towards the river.  At 21st Street is the entrance to Astoria Park, walk in and go to the middle of the tennis courts.  Look over to the bridge.  You’ll see a large concrete structure that anchors the suspension cables.  On the right corner below the roadway you’ll see the nest on a large drain pipe.

When I first arrived at the nest, I went right under it.  Within ten minutes of photographing the nest, a Police Officer threatened to give me a summonses for taking pictures.   Under current regulations while on MTA Bridge property, photography is prohibited.  I was very near the nest, so I may have been on MTA property when I was threatened with a summons.

However, it seems that photographing the bridge from public property is perfectly legal, so taking pictures from within Astoria Park would be perfectly fine. 

The ACLU has a suit against the city pending about ambiguous policies toward photographers.  It seems that the department has ambiguous policies which led to the accidental harassment of photographers.  I think my situation was similar to the problems birders have been having with scopes on tripods in city parks.  It’s too bad well meaning Police Officers are stepping over the line, due to ambiguous policies and poor training.

I’m going to be careful while in Astoria and keep my 500mm lens out of sight of the guard station.  I understand the paranoia in these post 9/11 times, but I thought we lived in the USA and not the old USSR!

The nest is next to a pigeon roost.  Imagine your meals flying by every few minute!
The kids were asleep when I arrived.
Two sleeping eyasses.
One perks up.
A preening eyas on the left.
The adult female flies off toward the Astoria Park track.
She’s impressive.  Note the light color of her eyes.
She does some half-hearted hunting on the underside of the bridge.
She scrapes her beak on a railing when she returns.
She flies off to a stadium light on the other side of the track.
She then returns to the nest.
Where she is greeted by two young ones.
Other Red-tailed Hawks, St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Red-tailed Hawk nests are the order of the day in New York City this year.  I think we have at least ten confirmed nests.  In the next few weeks, we should have lots of babies all through the city.  I’m going on vacation but will be back in time for some Red-tail babies.

Beyond my reporting there are lots of excellent websites in New York with news of Red-tail nests.

Rob Jett’s City Birder blog has news of two nests in Brooklyn and news via Chris Lyons of hawks in the Bronx.

Robert B. Schmunk’s Bloomingdale Village blog has been keeping tabs on the Cathedral Church of St. John hawks and other hawks in Central Park.

Jeffrey Kollbrunner’s website has news of a pair of hawks in Queens.

And if you’re into Peregrine Falcons Ben Cacace blog, NYC Nova Hunter has been keeping track of a pair on Park Avenue and the 55 Water Street webcam is back online.

Plus, James O’Brien’s The Origin of Species blog has news of American Kestrel, Peregrine and Hawk in midtown and Harlem.

Pale Male on Sunday
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Juvie Roost

The Pool, The Loch and the North Meadow have a young Red-tailed Hawk this season.  This young hawk is full of teenage enthusiasm.  I posted pictures of this hawk last week hunting around the Pool.

This week, I found one of its roosting spots.  (I think the hawk wants me to keep the location to just between the two of us.)

040207rti
Other Red-tailed Hawks

Reservoir Hawks

While up at the Reservoir, I saw a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk who was hunting around the edges of the reservoir and just before leaving the park, our 86th Street regular.

This young hawk was going after everything along the northeast of the Reservoir.  It went after sparrows, a squirrel, an American Robin, an American Coot and a Mallard without success.
The young hawk made its way down near our 86th Street regular, who gave it no notice.
Our adult 86th Street regular who slipped in without notice, just after sunset.
927 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.