Urban Hawks

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021Owls

Barred Owl, Harassed, Eating, Drinking

The Barred Owl in Central Park continues to be harassed by Blue Jays and American Robins during the day, and especially at dusk. On Thursday night, the attacks were relentless and the owl moved around from tree to tree in an attempt to avoid them.

In the middle of all of this, the Barred Owl caught a bird and ate it. It only took a few minutes. While it was eating, it was still being attacked by Blue Jays.

When it was done eating it stopped at a small pond, before going to a stream to get a drink. By now it was dark enough that the harassment had stopped. It stayed at the water, either perching nearby or being in the stream bed for a good twenty minutes. Then it was off to look for Brown Rats, off the railing of a bridge before it was flushed by passers by. I then lost track of the owl, only to hear it as I was leaving the park about 100 yards north of where I lost it.

May 14, 2021May 14, 2021Owls

Barred Owl

The Barred Owl continues to stay in Central Park despite the abuse of American Robins and Blue Jays. It’s moving about during the day a bit, and is rarely seen in the Hemlock it used for months.

May 14, 2021May 20, 2021Other Birds

American Robin’s Nest

There are lots and lots of active American Robin’s nests in Central Park now. The challenge is to find one that can be easily photographed. I’ve known of one and saw some nice activity this evening.

May 14, 2021May 14, 2021Riverside Park Red-tailed Hawks

310 West 72nd Street

The nest has only one eyass this year. The eyass is visible from the south side of 72nd Street between West End Avenue and Broadway, if you time things correctly. I ended up being very lucky and caught a feeding.

May 13, 2021May 13, 2021TCC/MCNY Red-tailed Hawks

Terence Cardinal Cooke Feeding

The eyass on the Terence Cardinal Cooke nest got fed late in the afternoon when I visited. While I haven’t seen it yet, I understand the eyass is exploring the ledge often going as far as twenty feet from the nest. I can’t wait until this one fledges and explores Central Park.

May 11, 2021May 11, 2021Other Birds, Owls

Barred Owl and Mallard Ducklings

The Barred Owl continues in the park. This evening it was in a very high perch before flying out east. It was mobbed and chased by some American Robins. There nesting certainly has turned up the aggression level!

After we lost track of the owl, we got to see the Model Boat Pond ducklings got to sleep under their mother.