Urban Hawks

March 16, 2010December 21, 2020Owls

Eastern Screech-Owl, Twice Widowed

Eastern Screech-Owls have been reintroduced to Central Park over the last twelve years. I’ve enjoyed monitoring them over the last five years.

This winter some friends and I kept track of what we believe is the last surviving pair from the reintroductions. Unfortunately, just after the pair started nesting, they lost their cavity to two squirrels and the male owl disappeared and is presumed dead.

The female continues to stay in the area. Each night she calls to advertise her availability to other owls, but no one answers.

March 16, 2010December 24, 2020Other Red-tailed Hawks

Young Red-tailed Hawk

An immature hawk was eating dinner in the Wildflower Meadow (northern Central Park), early Tuesday evening.

March 11, 2010December 16, 2020Central Park Coyotes

Smart Coyote

The coyote had trouble exiting the sanctuary tonight. As it would leave, someone would end up walking on the path, and it would jump back into sanctuary. We waited and waited, and of the four of us watching, two gave up.

Just as I was going to give up, one of those who left, said, the coyote had already left and had been all over the southern end of the park from near the Essex House and up to the playground. It either used the exit on the other side of the sanctuary or gave us the slip.

We were able to find it coming down a ridge west of the Center Drive. It then went west down the path that separates the Heckscher Playground from the Heckscher Ballfields. We then lost it.

For all that waiting, I got a few blurry pictures. Who would have thought Screech-Owls would be easier to photograph than a much bigger coyote?

One nice thing that has happened over the last few weeks. The dog walkers and other late night users of the park, don’t seem to be worried about the coyote anymore. Instead, they’ve gotten excited about trading stories of sightings. I guess after six weeks, folks realize it just another small town boy or girl, who has moved to the Big Apple to begin their adult life.

March 10, 2010December 16, 2020Central Park Coyotes

Coyote Going North

The Central Park coyote left late this evening around 7:40 and when north. It went over the hill and I lost track of it near the ice rink. I asked a couple with two young children, if they had seen it. The mother said, “Yes, it went that way.” pointing north.

The father said “Is it yours?” They had been so nice, I held my laughter until after I was out of earshot.

March 9, 2010December 24, 2020Riverside Park Red-tailed Hawks

Riverside Female Sitting On Nest

The female at Riverside has begun sitting on her nest, about twelve days earlier than last year. The new nest is going to be a challenge to photograph! I’m looking forward to having over a month to practice before fledglings.

March 9, 2010Central Park Coyotes

Upcoming Talk On Coyotes, Sunday March 28th, 2 p.m.

The Wild Dog Foundation, Wildlife in Need of Rescue and the Urban Park Rangers are hosting a talk on coyotes later this month. Given all of the coyotes in the Manhattan these past few weeks, it comes at a great time for those interested in these animals. The details of the talk are:

New York City Coyotes: Return of Native Wildlife
Balancing Urban Ecology or Conflict in the Concrete Jungle

by The Wild Dog Foundation, Wildlife In Need Of Rescue & the Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, March 28th, 2 pm
Central Park North Meadow Recreation Center
(Enter the park at 97th and
Central Park West and walk east or enter the park at 97th and 5th avenue and walk west.)

The wild coyote has a long history intertwined with man, present in Native American
folklore through to today's modern news clippings. Please join Frank Vincenti of the
Wild Dog Foundation, Bob and Cathy Horvath of Wildlife In Need of Rescue and the
Urban Park Rangers, to further explore their fascinating ecology and potential in
New York City.