I went by the nest on Tuesday and failed to see a feeding. I went back today, and after a long wait finally saw another feeding. The male would fly by the nest every hour or so, and perch on a nearby building for a few minutes.
Thanks to Tod Winston and his Audubon New York City bird walk group, many birders got to hear and see a Golden-winged Warbler on Tuesday.
It was great to receive reports that hawk watchers saw a feeding on Sunday at 350 Central Park West. It’s very hard to establish a new territory, and after the death of the male last year, it was unclear that this nest would work out this year.
When I arrived early on Monday afternoon a feeding was already in progress. I caught the tale end of it. I came back later in the afternoon and caught a few visits to the nest by the male. Like many new Red-tail Hawk fathers he wasn’t sure how much food to bring to the nest.
I’ve been busy watching spring migrants, but have gotten news about two nests.
1) Susan Kirby recorded feedings at 350 Central Park West. Her video is on YouTube. This is wonderful news. In a few weeks, when the eyasses grow a little bigger this should be a wonderful nest to watch. The nest is ten stories up, and five windows from the north and is best viewed from in front of the playgrounds either at 96/97th or 93rd from the sidewalk of the east side of Central Park West.
2) The third egg hatched at Washington Square. The camera was restored a few years ago. The URL is https://www.ustream.tv/channel/e3uYJSDgmbz On a mobile phone, download the ustream application and search for “NYU Hawk Cam”.
Two Red-tailed Hawks, other than Pale Male and Ocatvia, flew over the Fifth Avenue nest on Saturday evening causing both Octavia and Pale Male to leave the nest. Usually we only see a single intruder, usually a single juvenile or adult hawk enter the territory. Two adult hawks together seems unusual for this time year. While it was impossible to know, it could have been the San Remo pair investigating how their neighbors are doing.
The video has Pale Male on the nest and then leaving, Octavia returning, and then Octavia settling down. Estimates are that this nest is due to hatch sometime this week. No feedings have been seen yet, although Pale Male has brought a small mouse to the nest, which may be a positive sign.
I made my first trip of the year down to Tompkins Square Park today. Christo and Amelia are doing well this year, with none of the “threesome” drama of last year. Their nest, in the same location as last year, may have been the earliest to hatch in Manhattan. Amelia was keeping the eyasses warm, with Christo making a visit and then Amelia feed the eyasses in the early afternoon. The eyasses are still a bit too little to see (and count) just yet.
