Urban Hawks

I shot a long video of the Washingtion Square nest on Friday, after I got news the hatching.  With all of the concerns about Violet’s leg, I didn’t have a chance to edit it or post it.  Here it is.  It doesn’t have audio.

Bobby Horvath, a respected wildlife rehabilitator, visited the NYU Library on Saturday.  He was met by NYU administrators and they worked on site logistics, legal issues, etc. 

There is some good news about the windows, they can be unlocked and opened.  There are two windows on the nest’s ledge.  The left hand window, where the nest is located, swings out so it can’t be used.  Luckily, the other window which connects to a bathroom, opens in.   This should allow Bobby Horvath to lean out and see the nest.  If all goes well, the female will stay put or charge him rather than fly off the nest, which should make it fairly easy to capture her with a net.  So, mission impossible may be possible after all.

Bobby Horvath and his wife, Cathy plan on returning to the library mid-week to cut whatever cord is still left on Violet’s foot and remove her ill fitting band. They will also quickly examine her foot, apply topical cream, and administer to her an oral anti-inflammatory. 

Update: 5-10-11, The N.Y.S. D.E.C. has gotten involved and has asked that nothing be done at this time, just wait and monitor.  The D.E.C. regulates rehabilitators in the state and their recommendations must be followed.  So, wait and monitor is all that can happen at this time.

Bobby Horvath also learned the mystery of the hatch dates.  The NYU staff, not knowing that hawks can sit up to a week before laying an egg, gave everyone the date she started sitting, rather than the actual date of when the first egg was laid.  So this explains the confusion over the hatch dates.

As you can see in the video and photographs, Bobby the male Red-tailed Hawk may give Bobby Horvath a hard time during the capture of Violet, the female.

(I understand the Horvath’s home phone has been ringing off the hook, even at odd hours.  Unless you’re a licensed rehabilitator in New York State, I doubt you have much to contribute. Please let the Horvath’s have some peace and quiet, so they can be rested when they attempt the rescue.)

The Bobst Library nest is on the top floor of the building on a ledge.

The cord wrapped around her leg does not prevent Violet from flying off the nest.  So, to capture her, you would have to use net or entice her into a trap with prey as bait.

This situation reminds me of the fledglings relocated to Astoria Park.  They ended up having Frounce. We had to watch them as they got sick, and wait until they were so sick they became grounded.  Those days not being able to treat the fledglings were horrible.  I’m sure rehabbers experience this week after week.

So, we need an impossible rescue just as the eggs are hatching in an unreachable spot.

Here are some screen shots from the New York Times webcam this morning.  Her right foot, seen in the photos on the left, is twice as large as her other foot.  Violet’s in trouble, without a doubt.  Her foot shouldn’t look like a lobster claw!

Unfortunately, on what should have been a happy day with an incredibly unexpected hatching, the mother has gotten herself twisted in fishing line or cord. Her foot is swollen and she may be making the cord tighter while she tries to free herself.

I was in the park this evening, but didn’t realize from the street anything was wrong.  However, after reviewing my video I can clearly see she is in trouble.

Rehabbers and N.Y.U. are aware of situation.  The site logistics are horrible.  The window is fixed, so access has to be from the roof.  Update: 5-7-11, the windows can be unlocked.  They swing on hinges, and although the nest window faces out and can’t be used the western window of the pair opens in. Plus, with the new hatchling, the parents will be especially aggressive. 

Left untreated the mother might loose her leg and die, and most likely so would the hatchling.  Whatever rescue happens, things may go wrong, but the outcome will be better than doing nothing. 

So, we should be very careful not to criticize those helping, in case there is an accident.  The rehabbers are going to be twelve stories high, trying to save a mother who won’t want to be helped and have a father who might attack them from behind.

An egg hatched at Washington Square today, Friday, May 6th.  I was so sure the hatch window had closed, so I'm thrilled to be wrong! 

Nature seems happy to make fools of the arrogant all the time.  This time I'm happy she did!

Screen captures are on the NY Times Cityroom Blog.