Urban Hawks

March 16, 2009December 18, 2020Owls

Monday, 3-16-09

We saw the female in her standard cavity and all went down to the upper portion of the stream that flows from The Pool to try and get a fix on the male’s roosting spot. We didn’t have any luck finding where he was coming from. They both appeared and flew off to the same tree they’ve been hunting in the last few evenings. After about 45 minutes they both flew off and we lost them.

Much to my surprise when I got home, I found pictures of both of them in the same roost cavity. They slept in the same cavity on Monday! Surprise, Surprise! (He is just visible in the lower corner in the 3rd and 4th photographs.)

Riverside and Broadway

I spent the early afternoon looking at the Riverside Red-tailed Hawk pair on Saturday. There nest is just off the Hudson River near 8st Street and looks great. Last year they laid eggs around mid-March, so the female should start sitting on the nest soon.

Other nests in Manhattan are doing well. Inwood Hill Park, Highbridge Park, St. John the Divine and 5th Avenue nests are doing fine. The Highbridge nest is back to its old spot.

The Central Park South pair is still there but I don’t have any details about their nest. The Houston female lost her mate last year, and may be nesting on the ConEd plant around 14th Street. The pair that was around the City College campus remains a mystery.

Sightings of hawks this winter around the north end of Riverside Park and around the Court House buildings on Center Street make these locations possibilities for new nests this year.

When leaving Riverside Park, check out the American Kestrels that have a scrape at 80th and Broadway. One of them is usually on the building south of Zabar’s or on the church at 79th and Broadway.

March 14, 2009December 18, 2020Owls

Saturday, 3-14-08

Tonight, the pair started at their midway point, but quickly moved to a large Red Maple tree. They spent about twenty minutes fluttering about the tree.

They then both went east, and we picked up the female due to her calling but lost the male. She was ended up perching on both sides of the bypass road in wonderfully bright light.

March 13, 2009December 18, 2020Owls

Friday, 3-13-09

After the excitement of last night’s fishing, we had a standard night tonight. Fly out, the meet up halfway, copulation and off to hunt for the night.

As they settle in as a couple, it will be harder and harder to keep up with them. And trees are starting to bud. I’ll enjoy them as long as they let us.

March 12, 2009December 21, 2020Owls

Thursday, 3-12-09

Wow, we saw something fantastic tonight. We saw the male fishing in the stream that flows from Glen Span Arch. He stared at the water and then in a flash swooped down to the water, just touching the surface. (Sorry, no pictures.)

Another behavior, seen in Central Park, New York City. Add fishing to copulation, fledging, hunting, worm eating, bathing, raccoon attacking, etc. All in Manhattan. How great is that!

March 10, 2009December 21, 2020Owls

Monday, 3-9-09

Saturday, I was only able to see the female once and was unable to photograph either of the owls, so I was a little worried about finding them tonight.

It turned out to be a wonderful evening, with helpful friends and relaxed photogenic owls. Both owls were easily photographed tonight.

They spent some time by the small lawn on the northwest side of Glen Span Arch, hunting for either insects or worms.