Urban Hawks

April 18, 2013December 26, 2020Riverside Park Red-tailed Hawks

Riverside Park

Every breeding season in New York City, we have lots of nests that work like clockwork. This year, this seems to be Washington Square Park, Fort Washington Avenue, Inwood Hill Park, Fifth Avenue, CUNY Uptown and St. John seem to be in this category this year. (I haven’t had a chance to see what’s up on Randall’s Island, but that I suspect is fine.)

Then we have mysteries or mishaps. The Highbridge Park nest had problems, and a new one was built recently. In Central Park three pairs of hawks, one at the south, one in the northwest and one in the northeast, are all trying to get established.

The most confusing though is Riverside Park. After a few seasons of tragedies, last year two new hawks failed to make a nest although they tried on a number of fire escapes. This season, two hawks have been reported in the 90’s of Riverside Park. I went to see them today, but came away with more questions than answers.

April 17, 2013December 17, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Bobby Takes A Bath

Wednesday night in Washington Square Park was lots of fun. Bobby spent a great deal of time on the Law School, eating and bathing. Later in the evening Rosie left the nest unattended and ate some of his leftovers. It was nice to see them close up for a change.

April 16, 2013December 17, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Washington Square

I made yet another visit to Washington Square Park this evening. (It’s close to my office and my workday ran long.) Things continue to look great and it looks like the adults are getting used to having kids.

Rosie only took a quick break and Bobby was around the park but didn’t spend much time in view.

April 15, 2013December 26, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Washington Square Feeding From The Park

On Monday evening, I got to see both hawks, Bobby and Rosie. Bobby was first on 1 Fifth Avenue and then made a visit to the nest after Rosie began a feeding. In about a week, you’ll be able to catch small glimpses of the eyasses (young hawks) from the park.

April 15, 2013December 26, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Washington Square Feeding

The Washington Square nest has two hatched eyasses and an unhatched egg as of this morning. I was able to capture a few minutes of the NYU webcam video of a feeding.

The chat room as named them Kiku and Archie. Kiku after a member of the chat room who passed away, and Archie for the Washington Square Arch.

The third egg hatched at 12:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 15th. It has been named Judson.

April 14, 2013December 28, 2020Other Red-tailed Hawks

Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center

Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center is at 106th and Fifth Avenue. This winter I’ve frequently seen a hawk on top of the building. I didn’t think much of it, since we usually have a few wintering hawks in the north part of the park.

Today, I was surprised to see not one but two hawks on the building. Before I could get my camera out, the male flew off, circled the hill with the compost heap, and returned to the building and copulated with the female.

My first thought was these could be the Central Park West hawks? But both seem lighter both in eye color and in chest banding. The couple looks young. Anyone seen nest building on upper Fifth Avenue?