Barred Owl Continues!
The Barred Owl that has delighted us since last fall is still in the park, often near the water and often bathing at dusk in Central Park. It really is nice to have a resident owl in the park. These photos are from last week.
Tompkins Square Park
I learned from Jean Shum that one of the two fledglings from Tompkins Square Park was rescued and taken to the Wild Bird Fund. It was diagnosed with a spinal injury and died a day or two later. This is the second death this year at Tompkins Square Park, as one eyass died on the nest earlier in the nesting season.
The surviving fledgling was incredibly active while I was in the park on Monday. It was causing the park’s pigeon population to move around a great deal! It ended up being feed by one of the parents and ate in a tree in the southern side of the park.
Hawks often get injured because they have been weakened by diseases, lead or rodenticide poisons. So, while we’ll need to keep an eye on the remaining fledgling, it was a relief to see it so active.
Tree Swallow Nestling
Out on Governors Island for a walk with Annie Barry and NYC Audubon a week or two ago, Annie showed us a Tree Swallow nest box with a nestling just about ready to fledge. It stayed in the opening the whole time we were there.
2021 Manhattan Red-tailed Hawk Nest Update 11
This will be my last report of the year, and possibly my last nest update ever. When I started this blog, my intent was to increase awareness about Red-tailed Hawks in the city. That’s happened. Everyone now knows it’s not just Pale Male and his family anymore. And social media is getting the news out faster than I can on my own. So, I suspect you’ll see a more casual blog in years to come.
Don’t worry, I’ll still be reporting on hawks in the city. I just won’t be following the Manhattan nests so closely. The Wildlife group of the NYC Parks Department is now monitoring nests in the city very comprehensively, with a network of volunteers throughout the city. If you’re interested in Red-tails, I suggest you volunteer to monitor a section of the city.
Not much has changed in the last few weeks, except I learned there was no sign of the Randall’s Island pair this year. The nests that succeeded have all fledged and the only real question mark is if the Inwood Hill Park nest had any fledglings.
Tompkins Square Park Fledglings
Both Fledglings were in the same tree when I arrived late on Monday. They didn’t do a whole lots. Just some branching and some preening. I can’t wait for them to be more active!
American Kestrels on top of Greenwich House
On Barrow Street in Greenwich Village is a building called Greenwich House. I got an email that an Adult Red-tailed Hawks and a fledgling had been there for five days. So, of course I made a visit.
When I arrived I saw an adult pair of American Kestrels and one juvenile female. It’s unclear if I just didn’t see the Red-tailed Hawks, my timing was off or if there had been an I.D. problem. Hopefully, I’ll have a chance to have a few more looks to figure out what’s up.
