Urban Hawks

June 25, 2019December 17, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Another Washington Square Park Fledgling Returned

The fledgling found in a light well behind 15 Washington Place, was returned to Washington Square Park today. Bobby Horvath and Cathy St. Pierre took great care of it at WINORR. It was banded on the right leg. (The previously released bird was banded on the left leg.)

The released bird was very energetic, moving quickly from branch to branch, before changing trees. It then flew a full block south to 3rd Street. I had to leave the park around 1:30.

The Rogerpaw.com blog has coverage of what happened later in the day. It will be interesting to see how things work out over the next few days.

June 25, 2019December 22, 2020Red-tailed Hawk Nest Updates

2019 Manhattan Red-tailed Hawk Nest Update 17

The nest in Fort Washington has fledged. I believe there were three fledglings, but I’m not 100% sure. The only nest that I don’t have a report for is the 72nd Street nest.

It looks like 2019 was an especially poor year for Red-tailed Hawks in Manhattan. Let’s hope 2020 does better.

June 21, 2019December 22, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Greenwich Avenue and Bank Street

I looked for the Washington Square Park fledgling near where it was last seen on Wednesday. I didn’t find the fledgling but saw an adult circling a building at Greenwich Avenue and Bank Street. The hawk perched on a few buildings before landing on the roof with prey. I jumped out of view and I could not relocate it. The hawk looked similar to the new male, but didn’t have any missing wing feathers. So, I left more confused then when I arrived. Not what I was hoping for! In the cell phone photos, the hawk is by the center pipe in the rear of the roof.

June 21, 2019December 22, 2020Red-tailed Hawk Nest Updates

2019 Manhattan Red-tailed Hawk Nest Update 16

This year is turning out to be a dangerous year for Red-tailed Hawks in Manhattan.

Both eyasses fledged at St. John. One got into trouble and looks to have some head trauma. It is in rehab at WINORR.
The mother of the 350 Central Park West nest was found on the ground in the park. It was rescued but died in treatment.
The building at 100th and Third and the eyasses removed from the fire escape. They went to the Raptor Trust via the Wild Bird Fund.

June 20, 2019December 22, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

St. John Update

I went up to St. John the Divine this afternoon to see how things were going with the fledglings. One was above St. James and the mother on Angel Gabriel. I photographed them and then made my way up to the Cathedral from Manhattan Avenue. I was surprised to see an Urban Park Ranger car. It turns out that one of the fledglings was on the ground just to the NE of the Cathedral in a driveway. Sergeant Ranger Rob Mastrianni netted the bird, did a brief inspection of the bird and took it off to a rehabber for further inspection. If it checks out OK, it will be returned to the area.

June 20, 2019December 22, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

St. John the Divine

Even though it was raining I had a great time at the Cathedral on Wednesday. One of the eyasses flew from the nest (above St. Peter) to above St. James around 4:30. The mother had been feeding and one of the eyasses just decided to fly 30 feet to the south on the church. I left as it started to rain again but you pick up the rest of the evenings action on the Morningside Hawks blog.