Urban Hawks

March 27, 2009December 24, 2020Riverside Park Red-tailed Hawks

Riverside Hawks

Things seem to be just fine for the Riverside Hawks, although a rat baiting station in a small garden on the south side of Riverside and 79th Street, does have me worried. Will rat poisons still be a problem this year? Beyond this garden, it seems that a major source of poisons in city parks is from restaurant concessions, but there is still no legal language in their contracts to monitor/control their extermination plans.

When I arrived in the early afternoon, the male came in. He landed on one branch, visited another with some old prey (either cached food or leftovers from his mate), and then visited the nest. He then left and preened on a branch just north of the Boat Basin Café and flew out of sight.

March 27, 2009December 24, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Nest Height Change On Fifth Avenue

Below is a split shot of Lola and Pale Male’s nest, the left is from last year and the right is from a few days ago. Both were taken in March. It looks like the nest is now an inch or two higher. Cross your fingers for a positive outcome this year!

March 25, 2009December 18, 2020Owls

Wednesday, 3-25-09

It was a relaxed night. The female was in her cavity near the arch when I arrived. She was alert early. Fly out was normal, and even though I had situated myself to find the roost location of the male, he continued his stealthy ways and just appeared out of nowhere.

They both hunted in a tree they have used before and then we lost them. No sign of copulation tonight. One trill and a few whinny calls. They’re getting quiet.

March 24, 2009December 21, 2020Owls

Tuesday, 3-24-09

The action today was in the daylight. The squirrel that likes to come bounding across the drive, decided to climb half way up the owls roost tree, play nearby and eat a nut. The female owl, who was already awake, became very alert in very bright light before sunset.

After fly out, she flew briefly to a nearby tree and then up the hill. We thought the male had arrived from the north and then lead her out going south, but it was very hard to see. Today was completely the opposite of yesterday’s relaxed fishing session.

They’re both being very quiet now. Its hard to know if that’s because they’re now bonded and nesting should begin or if we’ve missed breeding this season and they’re now just relaxing.

March 23, 2009December 21, 2020Owls

Monday, 3-23-09

It was a cold evening, but luckily the owls stayed around Glen Span Arch were we were sheltered from the cold winds.

Both were by the arch after fly out, and the male quickly went fishing. He was very patient. He stayed in one spot for over half an hour. When he finally swooped down, he must have caught something, because afterward he let out the loudest trill we’ve ever heard from him. It was like he was yelling to his mate, “Dinners Ready!”.

The last photo has the blur of him swooping down to fish.

March 22, 2009December 18, 2020Riverside Park Red-tailed Hawks

Riverside Female Sitting On Nest

The Riverside female Red-tailed Hawk has begun sitting on the nest north of the Boat House Café. She was there when I arrived early this afternoon. She left briefly to copulate with the male and then returned to the nest mid-afternoon. The male came to nest soon after the copulation with a rodent for his mate. She eat it and then settled down into the nest. She most likely hasn’t laid eggs just yet, but she should over the next week.

When both of them are on the nest together, there are some pictures that clearly show the female’s broken beak compared to the male’s. Her beak is recovering nicely and shouldn’t pose a problem for the pair. But it’s great to have some side by side comparison shots.