Urban Hawks

June 19, 2015December 24, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Reluctant Fledgling

Washington Square Park has one of its fledglings staying in basically the same place since it fledged. Except for moving from a fourth floor ledge to a third floor ledge it’s stayed in the same place since around Monday at 10 am.

It’s being fed by its parents and doesn’t have any apparent injuries. Most likely it fledged too early or may have hit its head while fledging and needs some time to recover.

The other fledgling was having a meal on the Shimkin Building roof and both parents were keeping an eye on both fledglings.

June 18, 2015December 24, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

One Still On Fifth Avenue Nest

When I arrived at the Fifth Avenue nest, four hawks were in view. Two fledglings on roofs of buildings two blocks south of the nest, Pale Male two floors below on a railing, and an eyass on the nest (despite reports of a fledge on Tuesday.)

One of the fledglings explored various perches on a water tank. One of the things a young hawk needs to practice is turning around on a branch or in this case a rod. It was charming to watch the young hawk learn.

Just before a brief rain shower, Octavia made her way to the nest and plucked what may have been a pigeon carcass before leaving the remaining eyass alone on the nest.

June 17, 2015December 25, 2020Riverside Park Red-tailed Hawks

West End Avenue Update

News has arrived that the West End Avenue nest has failed this year. Two eggs were laid, and one hatched. The eyass died, although I’m not sure at what age. This location and the nest locations nearby have had issues in years past, so this news while sad wasn’t that unexpected.

June 17, 2015December 19, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Washington Square

The two fledglings at Washington Square can’t be any different. One is very active and flying high up to the roofs of the Shimkin Hall and the Education Building. The other is staying put on a fourth floor window ledge of the Pless Building. Young hawks definitely show you their personalities after fledging.

The parents were in view, and both kept a close eye on both fledglings.

June 15, 2015December 24, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

All Accounted For On Fifth Avenue

Once eyasses fledge it’s a lot more work to go hawk watching. You have to find them. Or in reality, let them and the birds around them show you were they are.

Tonight, the first was found on a building on Fifth Avenue yelling for attention before going off to a tree. It seemed to have the hang of things. It got to watch its father catch a pigeon and pluck it’s feathers below it.

The second fledgling was found on a building just south of the nest on a windows ledge. It looked a little bewildered, but its mother kept a eye on the youngster. Her arrival clued us to the location of this second fledgling.

And our third eyass is still on the nest.

June 14, 2015December 24, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

One Off At Washington Square Park

One eyass fledged sometime over the last day at Washington Square Park. I discovered it on the roof of the Bobst Library late this afternoon. It had fledged sometime in the last 24 hours, most likely Sunday morning. I received word that after I left the park, the fledgling ended up on the Pless building for the night.

It’s sibling is still on the nest and was fed by the parents, who seem in no rush to have it leave. Update: The second fledgling left the nest sometime before 10 am on Monday morning. Both birds were seen safely on buildings to the east of the park. One on Silver and one on Pless.