Urban Hawks

The evening started with two troublesome Mockingbirds trying to get the fledgling to move.  The fledgling stood its ground.  The bird then enjoyed the puddle in the rocks.

Then the fledgling killed a squirrel very effectively having tracked it from about 50 yards away.  On Sunday, the fledgling was seen atop a high apartment building on Riverside Drive.  The immature fledgling of just a few weeks ago, is growing up fast.

The video posted below has about a minute of the struggle between the squirrel and the fledgling.  The squirrel’s death takes a full minute.  If this would bother you, you might want to skip watching this video.  (On the other hand, if you have teenagers, invite them to watch.)

The surviving Riverside Park fledgling was back on the Hudson side of the parkway, when I visited on Saturday.  I didn’t stay long but all seemed well.

The remaining fledgling continues to do fine at Riverside Park.  Today the fledgling was back in the area south of the playground.  Hunting for rodents along the Drive wall, avoiding Mockingbirds, amusing children in the playground continue to be standard afternoon activities.

Today, I saw the fledgling cool off in the water by the rocks east of the playground.  (Lincoln Karim arranged for this area to be cleaned of trash, so it would be safe for the fledglings.)  The large rock outcroppings common in Manhattan parks, collect water making them perfect spas for Red-tails.

Tonight, I found the fledgling and the father near the Boat House Café.  This is back on the west side of the Henry Hudson Parkway, closer to the Hudson River where it was cooler. 

The fledgling had found an old nest and was relaxing in it.  After about fifteen minutes, I lost track of the fledgling, but soon rediscovered it nearby eating a rodent.  Once the fledgling was done eating, the father finished the leftovers.

The surviving Riverside Park fledgling seems to be doing fine.  It has an every widening area that it flies around in, which is giving the hawk watchers some exercise.  (I learned today, that the fledgling that died Monday was hit by a car, not a truck as I had previously been told.)

Tonight the fedgling spent a great deal of time on the Riverside Drive wall.  Some cell phone camera carrying paparazzi got a little close, but no harm was done, although it did interrupt the fledgling’s hunting.

I got to see, what for me is always a treat, a fledgling fall asleep.  It always seems to happens in a nice order.  The robins go to sleep, everything gets quiet, the hawk preens for a few minutes and then falls asleep.  And then I smile.