Urban Hawks

May 4, 2012December 26, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Washington Square

I spent a few hours at Washington Square after work. The eyasses were fed by the mother, who then went off to the cross on a nearby church. One eyass explored the ledge going a good way off the nest.

From the webcam, you can see the other eyass has it’s leg caught in a plastic bag. There are no signs that the eyass is any danger. Hopefully, as the eyass gets older it will be able to remove the plastic on it’s own.

However, there is a slight chance that the bag could get twisted and tighten which would restrict circulation. This would require intervention, so plans are being made to act if necessary.

Update: On Tuesday, 5/8/12, the eyass got free of the bag on its own.

May 2, 2012December 26, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Feeding Late In The Day

I like to witness things first had before I decide a nest is hatched. Today, I got to see a late feeding so I know Pale Male has at least one eyass in the nest.

May 1, 2012December 26, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Early Signs of Hatching

It takes some skill to determine if a nest has hatched. Is that a feeding you saw or just preening? Is the female really sitting higher? Did the male come in and look at a new eyass or was it something else that caught his eye? Did you see a slice come from the nest?

At the Fifth Avenue nest there are signs that the hatching process has started. I didn’t see a feeding or a slice but I did see the female sit higher in the nest and spend a great deal of time off the nest bowl.

I included lots of footage in today’s video for those who want to form their own opinions.

April 30, 2012December 26, 2020Washington Sq. Red-tailed Hawks

Washington Square Fun

Tonight I had lots of fun watching the eyasses. They’re big enough to see them for more than just a few minutes each evening. There feathers are starting to grown in and they’re stretching their wings. And tonight I got my first family portraits with the whole family in one frame.

April 29, 2012December 26, 2020Other Birds

Kentucky Warbler

Kentucky Warblers are rare in New York City, and their skulking habits make them that much harder to find. The excellent birders of Central Park have been keeping track of one for three days near the Swedish Cottage.

I was fortunate to see the Kentucky Warbler twice today. I didn’t get any great photographs, but was able to capture enough detail to prove I had seen it! It was a life bird for me.

April 29, 2012December 26, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Myth Making

I was disappointed to read a reader’s question on Marie Winn’s blog. The question included a statement as though it was fact, that Pale Male preferred Rock Pigeons over other prey and was less likely to be poisoned.

Those of us who have followed Pale Male throughout the year will be happy to testify to his varied diet which includes mostly rodents. There is no evidence that he prefers Rock Pigeons. None what so ever! (Pale Male does catch pigeons around the Model Boat Pond. I wonder if this has skewed observations, as many hawk watchers follow Pale Male only from the “hawk bench”.)

I visited the nest today. The feeling at the bench is that the hatch window doesn’t start until around May 1st. When I arrived Pale Male was on the nest and soon there after the female returned to take over brooding duties. Later in the day, I saw Pale Male perched on the Beresford Apartments.