Urban Hawks

On Wednesday night the Great Horned Owl continued in Central Park.  Unlike the Barred Owl that has been over birded in the North Woods, this owl is currently in a roost about 100 feet high.  I’m sure folks flocking to see it are slightly annoying, but on this evening it was a Cooper’s Hawk, two Red-tailed Hawks and two helicopters that kept annoying this owl.

It did all of the normal “owl yoga” (stretching) and preening before flying out to a nearby branch.  It did some more preening and coughed up one of the largest pellets I’ve ever seen.  (Owls cough up the bones and fur of their prey.)

The owl made a long flight south and ended up in a tall tree near the water before flying down to hunt.  I suspect it was after a Mallard.

It’s late fall and owl are arriving in the park.  This is a Great Horned Owl, which arrived this week. If you must see an owl in Central Park, this is the one to visit. It is roosting in a very high perch, and therefore least likely to be disturbed by visitors.

Saturday night with the Barred Owl was less spectacular than previous nights.  The owl had studied the cavities squirrels were using and went to three of them after sunset.  I don’t think it got one, but it was a nice start to the evening.  It then gave us the slip going deep into the woods.

After a few days without seeing it, the Barred Owl was seen again on Wednesday and again today.  It hunted after dusk, and much to my joy, after missing a Chipmunk perched within a few feet of me on a stump.  I was so worried I might bother it, I just froze and admired it.  What a wonderful experience, and in Manhattan of all places!