Washington Square Park Looking Good
I got to see the female getting a break, and her return. Everything looks on target for a mid-April hatch. Two eggs have been confirmed by NYU staff.
Fifth Avenue
When I arrived at the Fifth Avenue nest, Octavia was on it, and Pale Male was being harassed by an American Kestrel. He ended up perching on what the “regulars” call the Linda Building. I must have missed the exchanges for the day, as Pale Male soon went off to roost for the night. There isn’t a lot of action when their are eggs to be kept warm!
Surprise, Surprise
Thanks to some great detective work by Melody Andres, we now know that both the Grant’s Tomb (1) nest at 123rd Street and Riverside Drive and the 116th Street and Riverside Drive nest (2) are both active with two different pairs of hawks. These are close by to a Peregrine Falcon scrape (3) at Riverside Church, and close to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine nest site (4).
I had always thought Manhattan Hawk and Peregrine nests were like a checkerboard, with each taking different squares, but these three nests are so close together that it defies all that I had believed about nest positioning in the city.
Grant’s Tomb
116th Street and Riverside Drive
Moral Dilemma
Two years ago, a Peregrine Falcon nest box was installed on The Century building at 25 Central Park West. It was installed by the owners without permission of the Coop board on a landmarked building without a permit. At the time, I thought it was outrageous that the owners of the apartment then cried foul, knowing full well that they had intentionally gone behind the back of the Coop, which at the time was having the facade repaired. The box was removed that year by the Coop.
So, I was upset today seeing what must be the same pair hanging out on both towers of The Century today. The falcons certainly seem to be planning on using the same ledge a scrape this year. I hope either the city DEP or state DEC can get involved and mediate a solution. It would be great if this Peregrine Falcon pair could be supported somehow, while the regulations of both the Coop and city’s building department are both respected.
Panama and Costa Rica
Videos
Photographs
Washington Square Park Nest Active
At least one egg has been confirmed by NYU staff and the Washington Square female has begun sitting on the nest. Tonight, I caught a late exchange. So, one by one, the New York City nests are settling down to business.
