Young Hawk On The Great Hill

I spent the early evening on the east slope of the Great Hill (NW Central Park), following up reports of a sighting of owls there four days ago.  It was slow going with no owls in sight and fairly quiet.  My best bird was a very vocal Carolina Wren.

When dusk arrived, a young Red-tailed hawk landed in a Great Hill tree, and then stayed for a few minutes.  It took off and made the begging sound young Red-tails make.  I followed it to the West Drive, where I saw one hawk leaving (a parent?), and a hawk perched (the fledgling?), who then flew off back towards the Great Hill.

I was able to watch it circle the hill, and then head north.  I can’t be 100% certain but there’s an excellent chance the young hawk was the healthy Cathedral fledgling.  (The other Cathedral fledgling had lead poisoning and has a lame foot.)

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