I found one of the fledglings on Friday afternoon about 100 yards west of the nest in a small pine tree along the 85th Street onramp to the West Drive. It stayed perched in the tree for over an hour, and across the drive an American Robin repeated a warning call during that whole time.
I hadn’t had time to go look for the TCC Fledglings until today. I didn’t know what to expect when I went up to see them. Last year, the single fledgling was hard to find after two weeks, so I had limited expectations.
When I arrived I heard American Robins making alarm calls in the SW section of the Conservatory Garden. I found one of the fledglings, who flew to another tree and then up the hill towards the Compost Heap, before I could get any decent pictures.
I climbed the hill up to the Compost Heap and found all three fledglings in the Black Locust tree the Snowy Owl loved so much. One fledgling flew out twice only to return to almost the same branch. Two of them cried for food, but I didn’t see the parents. I suspect they were hunting around the North Meadow.
All three fledglings looked to be in good health.
My visit to watch the Pinetum fledglings had the older fledgling exploring Seneca Village, especially the area west of the West Drive. The younger fledgling spent its time near the nest.
The father made lots of flights around the area, and brought a pigeon to the nest but dropped it close to the West Drive. There were too many folks on the road for the father to retrieve it. I suspect it will get picked up early the next day.
The Pinetum fledglings behaved much like they did on my last visit. The older was flying around trees around the nest and the younger fledgling was staying in the nest tree. The male brought the younger one a rodent while I was watching them. The mother wasn’t staying so close but was watching from farther away. But other than that not much was happening. I hope to see more action in coming weeks.
After searching around 86th and West End Avenue for the Peregrine Falcon fledglings, I decided to go over to Riverside Drive, where the parents often are seen during the winter.
After watching butterflies and stomping on a Spotted Lanternfly nymph, I found one of the fledglings in a tree at 88th and Riverside, just inside the park. It was the first time I’ve seen any member of the family in a tree and not on a building!
I then heard an American Robin alarm call from near the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. At first I couldn’t find any fledglings, but eventually found two on the western side, and one on the eastern side.
There were some high flights in addition to the much lower perches of the fledglings. I couldn’t tell if it was the parents or the fledglings. I did find one fledgling on a building roof at 89th and Riverside and I found two fledglings later in the afternoon on the Normandy Apartments.
A week after they fledged, I had a chance to see the two fledglings. Mellow was the theme. Both hawks were just hanging out and relaxing more most of the time I was with them. Both parents made visits and food was left on the nest. The youngest fledging ate for a bit and the mother ate leftovers.
It should be a fun summer watching these two learn to hunt and fend for themselves.
