Wednesday, 1-30-08
I saw an owl in the new tree, got out my camera and the owl was gone. I’ll have to set up the camera before getting near the bridge the next time!
Pale Male and Lola’s Nest
On Tuesday, NYC Audubon refurbished the nest at 927 Fifth Avenue. 72 pigeon spikes were removed, as well as three eggs. After three unsuccessful years, Pale Male and Lola will have a much better chance of having a successful nesting season this Spring.
I have the highest respect for the staff and board members of NYC Audubon, who undertook this project. The refurbishment required research and consultation with scientific experts, getting permission to modify the nest from the Co-Op board and government officials, and extensive and expensive technical planning and execution.
NYC Audubon usually focuses on education and conservation activities in New York City. To have focused on such a specific issue must have caused lots of discussion at board meetings. Kudos to Executive Director, Glenn Phillips, for having the courage to take on this important issue.
NYC Audubon is in the midst of its Annual Appeal for 2008. I encourage everyone to make a donation to NYC Audubon to thank them for helping Pale Male and Lola.
Monday, 1-28-08
It looks like a tip from a Park Ranger may help us rediscover our missing North Woods Owls. There is a tree near a popular bridge that has had a number of Owl sightings over the last few days.
This may be the new nesting cavity for the pair. It was possible we had guessed too soon about when they started nesting. The new location makes sense since it is near the fledge sites of 2005 and 2006.
Saturday, 1-26-08
The West Side owls continue to be in stealth mode. The male was reported to been visible briefly during the day when a squirrel went near their cavity. I think they’re going to be impossible to photograph until later in the spring.
One of the Pool owls cavities had a squirrel come into the hole at dusk. Since this is where I had though they had laid eggs, this is very confusing. This is a real puzzle.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in Union Square
The Scott’s Oriole continues in Union Square. The juvenile Red-tailed Hawk which is spending the winter in Union Square was having a great time going after pigeons and squirrels. It didn’t catch anything while I was there, but it seemed to be having fun time keeping everyone on their toes.
Friday, 1-25-08
There wasn’t a fly out this evening. Neither owl flew out, and like last night we wondered why. We searched the area and found nothing.
Then about an hour after the usual fly out, two raccoons made their terrible cry and the female owl popped up to investigate. I missed capturing the first pop up as I had already put away my equipment, but I captured images during two more periods of raccoon crying.
