I received two emails on Thursday, about young hawks sightings near Washington Square the previous day on Wednesday the 20th.

Sean Morgan reported a sighting at 55 5th Avenue which is between 12th and 13th Streets.  The bird was on the 18th floor and its marking matched Pip's, the Washington Square fledgling.

I also got a report from Lisa Buddenhagen about a fledgling perched at 215 Park Avenue South, which is at 18th Street.  This bird could easily have been Pip, but there wasn't any clear field mark that was definative.  However, my guess is the bird has an 80% chance of being Pip.  Nothing ruled the bird out and I know of no other nearby nests.

I'm not surprised by the sightings.  Pip and her parents hadn't been seen in Washington Square Park for a few days, so they have to be exploring other areas.

There had been many reports of Bobby being seen in Union Square in additon to Washington Square by birders earlier in the year.  Do the adults claim multiple small parks to make up their territory?  Could they control Union Square and possibly Gramercy Park, in addition to Washington Square?

And do they need a park at all?  The male of the Central Park South hawks, used to kill pigeons that roosted below a water tank, atop a twelve story building with a Starbucks at Broadway and 60th Street.  So, it's possible Pip doesn't even need a park!

Pip may turn out to be the most urban of all recent NYC Red-tail fledglings, if this behavior continues! 

Thanks for the reports Sean and Lisa.