Urban Hawks

February 9, 2008December 23, 2020927 5th Avenue Red-tailed Hawks

Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day

Pale Male and Lola were spotted copulating on Thursday by Lincoln Karim, and I was able to witness them copulating on Saturday. A sure sign that Spring is coming to Fifth Avenue.

February 8, 2008December 21, 2020Owls

Friday, 2-8-08

Friday was a fun, but confusing night. The female continues to appear out of nowhere, and we can’t figure out what stage she’s in, pre-egg laying, sitting on eggs or with hatchlings.

One of owl group takes a short cut down into the Loch off the bridge. For the first time, we see him raise his ears at us. We all pledge never to take the short cut!

The owl quickly takes a relaxed posture, so no harm was done.

The owl slowly creeps higher and higher before fly out. However, when you see both feet at the edge, fly out is only moments away.

A jump to the “backdoor” and out he goes.

There was lots of head rubbing but no copulation this evening.

After this shot was taken, we started to exit the park. By their 2007 nesting cavity, we first heard and then saw the pair. As we exited the park, we realized with each day, we end up with more questions than answers.

February 7, 2008December 21, 2020Owls

Thursday, 2-7-08

Tonight, we confirmed that there was a back door out of the owl’s roost. We only saw the male tonight, but he let us watch him for over twenty minutes after flyout.

February 7, 2008December 23, 2020Extralimital, Other Birds

Florida Trip – Assorted Photographs

The last set of photographs from my late December Florida trip.

February 6, 2008December 15, 2020Owls

Wednesday, 2-6-08

Nothing tonight. Nada. But I’ve had great luck so far this season, so it’s cool.

Tuesday, two owl watchers saw the owl fly out and then be joined by its mate. Calling and copulation occurred. So, I think we’re got the same pair as last year, just in a new spot.

February 4, 2008December 21, 2020Owls

Monday, 2-4-08

Much like the last two nights, although I went down to the lower path before fly out. It didn’t help me see were our friend went however.

We had a difficult time with two men playing owl tapes. We got them to turn off their boom box, but it made me realize more than ever the need to be secretive about owls. The good guys can be the bad guys without you knowing.

There is a crack in the tree which you can’t see in these pictures. I believe the bird can look through and even fly out of the crack. The owl is looking through the crack in this picture.