Wrestling Raccoons
On a very hot evening, I looked for the sick fledgling in Central Park without success. But I did have some fun watching two raccoons play at dusk.
Fifth Avenue Youngster Looking Better
For those joining us late, Pale Male and Octavia’s youngster’s got into trouble this year. One is at a rehabilitator’s getting care, one was found dead on a park drive and one is still in the park.
The one still in the park has been visibly sick but not sick enough to be caught despite the best efforts of the Central Park Conservancy and the Urban Park Rangers, whose actions last week included the use of a Cherry Picker. (It would be good to keep this in mind when folks tell you the Conservancy or the Rangers are evil. They actually have great staff and go the extra mile to support the hawks in the park.)
So, those of us who where concerned about this fledgling, tried without success to find it on Saturday. Lucky, I was able to find it on Sunday afternoon, southeast of Turtle Pond. Much to everyone’s surprise it looked normal, without any of the droopy eyes or lethargy we saw on Friday. Hopefully it is recovering, but only time will tell. Unfortunately, some birds appear to recover, but relapse once they resume hunting and eating. Let’s hope for the best.
Sick and Dead Fledglings
Pale Male and Octavia’s children all became sick over the last ten days, with one being captured and send to the Horvaths, one being found dead on one of the park drives, and one looking sick but not sick enough to be captured.
The photographs below are of the fledgling who is sick and thus far has avoided capture, who sat all afternoon in a tree to the west of the Maintenance Shed around 79th Street in Central Park.
Noisy Sheep Meadow Youngster
Around this time of year, we sometimes end up with noisy youngsters begging for food endlessly when their parents have decided it’s time for the youngsters to hunt on their own.
Tonight, it was a Sheep Meadow youngster who was making a racket just north of Tavern on the Green in a nice protected playground that is undergoing renovation. The pictures are of the youngster and his/her father.
Avenue A
I saw both parents today on a chimney, then saw Dora on a church cross on Avenue B. She’s molting, so she looks a little “rough” right now. No sign of the youngsters who have been difficult to find.
Darien Osprey, A Month Later
The Osprey nest in Darien, CT no longer has two little ones, but two large fledglings flying on and off the nest. They’re doing great and it was fun to watch then for an afternoon. Highlights included a number of “food fights” over fish the father brought, and watching the mother go wading and then bathing in the ocean.
The birds with rows of small dots on the wings and yellow on the back of their necks are the fledglings, and the mother has markings on her upper breast, which are much fainter on the male.
