Urban Hawks

May 5, 2007December 21, 2020Owls

Saturday, May 5th

Chris joined me this evening, as well as some locals from the neighborhood this evening.

One couple told us about an Eastern Screech-Owl that was on their windowsill at 1 a.m. about three weeks ago. They live on Central Park West. This is consistent with research done after the initial reintroduction of the owls into the park and our experiences last year. However, it always surprises me when I hear these stories.

Tonight after the fly out, we watched one of the owls hunt a rodent. I think the owl missed, but it was a wonderful sight to see. (It happened too quickly for photographs however.)

The fledgling moves up onto the main branch.

Some intense study before the rodent hunt.

May 5, 2007December 22, 2020Inwood Hill Park Red-tailed Hawks

Inwood Hill Park, Week 3

The Inwood Red-tailed Hawk eyasses continue to grow up. Both looked healthy. The adult male left the nest as we arrived and he flew by a few times.

It was a relaxed afternoon, until a feeding when both chicks perked up and became active. The pictures below are of the female and her two offspring.

May 5, 2007December 15, 2020Owls

Eastern Screech-Owls 2007

I’ve been photographing three Eastern Screech-Owls for about five weeks. As I did last year, I’ve waited to release these photographs until after the owls had left their nest cavity and are now sleeping in high tree branches.

Despite my fears this winter that there were no Eastern Screech-Owls left in the Central Park, on Monday, not only did I see the three owls I’ve been studying but also a new adult bringing my count for the day to four.

May 3, 2007December 21, 2020Owls

Thursday, May 3rd

A wonderful 60 degree evening with a crystal clear sky. Chris, her dog Fig, Maureen and I were the regulars for the evening.

The owls resting spots for the day. Left to right, fledgling, Herringbone and Trident.

Fledgling is looking more and more like an adult each day.

Vertical stripes on its chest are coming in.

It’s flying much better, knows how to land, but still has some juvenile behaviors, like head bobbing.

Herringbone returned to the nest cavity.

All three were together briefly across the drive, where we then lost them. One moved while this picture was being taken, so it appears as a ghost.

May 3, 2007December 15, 2020St. John/Columbia Red-tailed Hawks

Waiting for them to grow up

At St. John the Divine we know there are babies because of the feeding behavior of the parents, but because of the deep bowl and height of the nest they aren’t visible. I keep waiting for one of the eyasses to be strong enough to pop its head up. But it just hasn’t happened yet. On Thurdsay, we got to see the parents do feedings, saw both of them off the nest, and saw the male with a mouse. Everything but an eyas!

May 2, 2007December 21, 2020Owls

Wednesday, May 2nd

A nice evening, with Marie, Jim, Chris and myself watching the owls.