927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Hawks and Osprey, Governors Island Red-tailed Hawks, Other Birds, Owls

Late July, Early August

I’ve been birding on and off in the last two weeks, usually without a camera. It’s a quiet time with the first signs of fall migration just beginning. (I had two American Redstarts and a Northern Waterthrush yesterday.)

I have shot some snippets of what I’ve been seeing including:

  • Central Park’s resident Barred Owl who has stayed longer than anyone expected, about 10 months at this point.
  • The fledgling on Governor’s Island who is now a fantastic flier, exploring the island with ease.
  • Laughing Gulls on Central Park’s Reservoir. While they aren’t rare in the NYC area, it was a fun surprise to see them in the park.
  • One of the El Dorado Peregrine Hawks eating dinner.
  • Pale Male looking a bit scruffy, as he is molting.
Owls

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 Red-tailed Hawks

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.

Other Birds

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.

Red-tailed Hawk Nest Updates

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.