Riverside Hawks
I visited the nest in the late afternoon and the mother was sitting on her eggs and the male was spending time flying up and down Riverside Drive. Not much happened while I was there, except for a little preening.
Friday on Fifth Avenue
This will be my last report from Fifth Avenue for awhile. It’s pretty clear that the nest has failed and I’m going to spend my time birding in other locations.
Lola was preening while I was at the nest early this evening.
Friday, 4-24-09
After not seeing them for days, I found both of them. They were very active in the warm weather and I quickly lost them. Not sure if they are nesting or not. I only saw them for a few minutes, which was enough time for a nest break.
Riverside In The Wind
I had forgotten how windy it could get on the bank of the Hudson River. The sitting female took it in stride. The nest looks like she just fits by herself. How will it hold everyone in the weeks to come?
Thursday at Fifth Avenue
With each day, it becomes more certain that the nest has failed yet again. I look for signs of an eyass, and can’t find one, except that Pale Male is bringing food directly to the nest. There have been no signs of a feeding, and Lola is still sitting down deeply on the eggs.
It would be wonderful to be wrong about this, but I have to be realistic.
Hawk Watch At Riverside
If the nest failures on Fifth Avenue over the last few years have you down, hop on the M79 Bus at 79th and Fifth and take the bus crosstown to the last stop at 79th and Riverside. From there it is a short walk to the nest. The pair should have eyasses (babies) around May 1st plus or minus 5 days.
If you get off the bus at 79th and Riverside, cross Riverside and walk along the dirt path, being careful as you cross the on ramp and off ramp of the highway. Then walk under the overpass, and take the stairs down to the Boat Basin Café. If you keep making right turns you’ll pass the bar, take a small set of stairs and then a long set of stairs. Once you get to the bottom keep going straight (north) about two blocks and you’ll be at the nest. For better views, climb up to the exit ramp and look back. The river cools things down, so dress as though it’s 10-15 degrees cooler than the city.
Update 4-30-09: The Boat Basin Café is very busy on the weekends and can be frustrating to navigate through. As an alternative, you can enter the park at 83rd Street, and wind your way west to the 84th Street underpass, cross under the highway and walk south to the nest.