I went over to Riverside Park this afternoon, to look for the Red-tailed Hawk fledglings. I’ve been sent pictures of one of them who has been spending time on a set of terraces in the 70’s. But the fledglings can’t be seen from the street.
So, after hearing some noise from two Blue Jays, I found their nest just inside the 72nd and Riverside Drive entrance to the park.
I took more photos of the Cedar Waxwings today. It’s an easy nest to watch, although it requires some patience as the feedings can be more than half an hour apart.
I’ve gone a few times to look for the West End Avenue Red-tailed Hawk fledglings, but have been unable to find them on my last visits.
So, I spent time in Central Park today. At the north end of Strawberry Field in a Black Locust tree which is in the steep slope between the end of the chip path and the road, is a Cedar Waxwing nest. It appears to have two birds in the nest. I saw them and both the parents today. The feedings took place about 30 minutes apart, so the nest requires some patience if you’re going to watch it. This is the first time I’ve seen a Cedar Waxwing nest in the park.
The action I saw today, was a parent and a fledgling, up and down West End Avenue from 70th to 76th Street, on building on both the west and east side of the street. I believe the fledgling I was watching was the second one to leave the nest.
The young fledglings and their father spent time on 310 West 72nd Street, 263 West End Avenue, the rear of 269 West 72 Street, the rear of 253 72 Street, and 253 West 73rd Street while I watched them this evening.
The parents and fledglings may still be using the nest for feedings, because I keep seeing the fledglings return to the nest.
The real fun of the evening was to see the fledglings cross West End Avenue and end up on the rear of 253 72 Street. A pair of Northern Mockingbirds and later a pair of Blue Jays, started to harass one of the fledgling. The father quickly came in and allowed himself to be attacked and pulled the attacking birds away from the fledgling. I’ve seen this behavior at lots of nests, and I enjoy watching the protective instincts of the parents.
Just like yesterday, the eyasses look healthy and seem to have enough experience flying and landing that they should do well when the parents bring them to trees and lawns nearby. The real question is, will it be the Lincoln Towers area or Riverside Park.
Things started slowly on 72nd Street. One parent was high up on 220 Riverside Boulevard and I saw a parent on 70th Street, east of West End Avenue and then at the bottom of Riverside Drive. But no fledglings.
Then out of the blue, one of them was on the ledge where the nest is. I thought, I know both of them have fledged. Was I wrong? It didn’t take long to find out the answer. The fledgling had only made a brief stop on the nest and it made a strong flight across the street.
When I turned the corner to see where it went, both fledglings were on 263 West End Avenue, which is on the NW corner of 72nd Street and West End Avenue.
For over 30 minutes the two hawks explored the terraces and balconies of the East and South facades of the building.
In all my years trying to study these hawks, this is the first time I’ve seen a fledgling at this nest!
