Nice night. An early peek out by one of the owls, then a fly out of both of them. One seemed to return to the cavity, but no activity like the night before. No buzzing of squirrels or raccoons.
Seven raccoons left the “raccoon tree” this evening, including a very cute little one.
The rain cleared and under blue skies we got to see an exit WITH food! Was the mouse a left over? Both owls quickly flew off. No sign of kids yet, but we keep hoping they’ll be visible soon. Is the owl wet in the last two photographs?
It looks like the female went out first with a push from the male. She has a feather stuck to her mouth if you look closely. We found an owl shortly after the fly out but couldn’t tell if it was him or her for sure.
The male was visible by the bridge and the female in nest cavity. Both owls few out, but we think the female quickly returned.
The male continued his buzzing of the raccoons and we got to see him deliver “take out” which includes a soft call to “ring the doorbell” that said the pizza man has arrived come to the door dear.
A young Red-tailed hawk was in the neighborhood at sunset.
A young Western Tanager has appeared in the park. It does appear in Sibley’s range maps as a rare visitor to the east, but I think this is the first one recorded in Central Park.
In March of 2008, I gave the following lecture:
50 Birds in 50 Days with Bruce Yolton
Saturday, Mar 29, 2008
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bruce Yolton is an amateur photographer, popular blogger, and avid birder who has lived in New York City for over twenty years. Bruce discovered birding three years ago when Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates prompted him to walk every path in Central Park, and he has been hooked ever since. He shares his joy of learning about birds with others in his blog about Central Park birding, called Urban Hawks.
Now, you too can learn how to go from beginner to seasoned birder as Bruce shares his birding experiences and tips in person at Belvedere Castle in Central Park. In Bruce’s lecture presentation, 50 Birds in 50 Days, he will display his birding photographs, teach how to select a field guide and choose binoculars, and divulge the best walking routes and viewing spots in Central Park.
It was a great deal of fun to share my love of birding in Central Park.
If you missed the lecture, here is a summary of the links and the slides from the talk: