Urban Hawks

Fledge Day +3

The fledglings were really having fun on the buildings to the east side of Washington Square Park this evening.  Both were exploring the buildings and doing very well at flying and landing.  The buildings and locations are the same ones Pip used last year, bringing back fond memories.

Fledge Day +2

On the second full day after fledging, both eyasses were found in various places around the park, as well as their parents. 

When I arrived, one eyass was on a building to the east of the Bobst Library, where the nest is.  It was on the roof for over an hour.  It ended up flying far south.  At the end of the day, this eyass' location was uncertain.  It may have been on top of one of the Washington Square Village buildings, based on the parents behavior. 

While we were searching for this fledgling, a parent and a Peregrine Falcon chased after each other.  I hadn't seen a Peregrine for awhile and thought they had left the neighborhood, but I guess they were just keeping a low profile.

Bobby and Rosie were both seen hunting in the evening.  Both caught rodents.  Bobby ate his second catch on a building south of the Silver building on the east side of the park.

Late in the evening one fledgling was found on a Silver balcony.  It begged a little for food.  Rosie came over with a rodent, and then flew of with it to a building to the south of Silver with the food.  Parents use food to move stuborn fledglings from location to location, and I suspect Rosie wanted the fledgling off of Silver.

Fledge Day +1

The fledglings' first day in the park seem to have been a great day for them. Folks found both fledglings, and both parents were easy to find during the day. 

I arrived in the evening to find two adults and a fledgling.  That fledgling took off from the Silver building, first for a tree and then ended up trying to land up on 2 Fifth Avenue.  It miscalculated its landing on 2 Fifth and ended up in a fenced in garden that is now a construction site.

Bobby took some left over food from Silver and eat it on the building directly to the south.   The other eyass who had been on that building (where Pip hung out after fledging), ended up on a window on Silver.  Rosie was on a flag pole for much of this time so we had three hawks, two adults and the other fledgling, in view.

Fledge Day

Fledge Day at Washington Square turned out to be unlike any I have every watched.  Both eyasses fledged within ten minutes of each other (8:05 and 8:15) and ended up on the same ledge of a nearby NYU building.  Red-tailed Hawks don't normally fledge together, nor do they usually fledge to the same place.  The fledge happened at dusk, another rarity.

I caught the first fledge while shooting video.  I couldn't find where the fledgling landed, but both parents seemed to be searching a rooftop.  So, I went to 4th Street to see if I could get a view.  While I was there, a hawk came from the library.  I thought it was one of the parents, but would soon find out it was the second fledgling.

I returned to the building the hawks fledged to.  I thought I was photographing one fledgeling, but as it got dark it became apparent that a second hawk was there.  After reviewing pictures and photographs, it turns out the second fledgling had been there all along, just tucked out of view.  The ledge they fledged to was a favorite spot of the parents, and was one they often brought food to.

So, a new stage of the adventure begins.

Washington Square Fledges

I'll write some more later, but this video says it all.  Well almost, both ended up fledging to the same ledge within minutes of each other at dusk.  Something almost unheard of.

 

Quick Visit to Washington Square

Some equipment problems kept me from staying in the park longer this morning/afternoon but I had a good time none the less.

Bobby was on the cross for most of the morning before soaring off high in the sky.  Rosie delighted park patrons by hunting in the western section of the park, often from lamp posts.

The eyasses continued their flight training along the ledge.

Rain Again!

There was yet another afternoon downpour this afternoon in Washington Square.  The eyasses loved it, like kids playing with a hose on a hot day.  They jumped and flapped like crazy.  (Pip did the same thing last year.)

Ready, Set...

The eyasses haven't fledged yet, but at least one of them looks old enough to fledge.  Here's to a safe fledge by both eyasses.

Rain, Rain Go Away

New York City continues to have inclement weather, and it poured tonight while I was in Washington Square.  Both parents were around, and one brought food to the nest.  The two eyasses continue their jump flaping on the nest ledge.

Rain Stops, Eyasses Almost Ready

The youngsters at Washington Square Park will soon be fledging.  A break in the rain allowed me to see the eyasses and the parents this evening.  The eyasses chests are all apricot, their eye color is light and they've almost lost all of their down.  Just a little more growth and we'll have some fledglings.

Washington Square

I didn't spend too much time in Washington Square today, since the sun was very strong.  But I did get to see both parents and enjoy looking at the soon to be fledgling eyasses. 

Bobby was on One Fifth be harassed by both a Northern Mockingbird and two Bluejays.  Rosie was on the cross and then a microwave dish.

The eyasses were jump flapping, sleeping and eating on their own.

Astoria Park

I took a visit to Queens to check out a nest on the Triborough (RFK) Bridge.  It's been on the bridge for some time, although one year the nest was on the opposite side of the bridge.  Like so many nests in New York City, it had a parent die from poisoning.

Astoria is a nice quiet neighborhood full of friendly people.  Sometimes I get burnt out answering scores of questions from hawk watchers in Manhattan, and Astoria makes a wonderfully relaxed trip.   The nest is near the next to the last stop of the N train, which is a quick trip from where I live in Manhattan.

This year the nest has three eyasses, which seem to be about a month old.

Quick Visit to Fifth Avenue Nest

I made a brief visit to the Fifth Avenue nest on Friday afternoon.  The three adorable eyasses were there with their mother, who was offering shade to anyone who wanted it.

Camera Adjusted

Tonight, the web camera got adjusted and the view has improved greatly.  Thanks to the New York Times staff.  The eyasses were unfazed by the work and the parents did not see the work.  So, it was a stress free event for the family.

The eyasses were very active and while not big enough to fledge yet, they have us all thinking about what's coming next!

Hungry Youngsters

The three eyasses at the Fifth Avenue nest continue to be easier to see with each passing day.  Today, I got to see a visit by Pale Male and two feedings.

Washington Square Evening

I only spend about an hour at the Washington Square nest this evening.  Both eyasses were having a relaxed time on the nest.

St. John the Divine Duo

I had the good fortune to be at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine nest at the right time to see two eyasses on the nest.  We never know for sure how many eyasses are on this nest until late in the season.  For some reason it's easy of for a third eyass to hide in this nest.

Fluffy Trio

The eyasses at Fifth Avenue have gotten big enough that you can see their heads during feedings.  Today, I got to see all three of them for the first time. 

Growing Up

One of the surprises of hawk watching is how fast the hawks on a nest grow.  Over the last few days, the eyasses have begun to get their chest coloring.  And their tails are now long enough that we can see stripes.

It was a nice evening in park, although the high winds bounced my camera around a bit.  Highlights of the evening include watching the parents on One Fifth Avenue and watching the eyasses get close to the edge of the ledge.

Fantastic Fifth Avenue

While I only could see one eyass from street level, and not the three that have been seen from building terraces, I still had a fantastic visit to Fifth Avenue this evening.

Both parents were very active attending to their newborns.  Pale Male hunted and removed leftovers.   The mother fed the eyasses (watch the video) and snuggled up to with them at nightfall.

Brief Washington Square Visit

It started raining as soon as I arrived at Washington Square.  I took cover under a tree, but ended up only staying for about twenty minutes.

Bobby made a brief visit to the cross and then the Silver building before disappearing.  Rosie was on the nest most of the time with the two eyasses.

Sunday in Washington Square

Washington Square seemed very normal today.  Standard behavior by all hawks young and old.  One eyass still has a foot caught in a plastic bag, but seems safe for now.

Both eyasses are becoming better coordinated and are walking around more.  They're also starting to flap their wings.  It's a great time to come to the park and watch them with binoculars.

Fifth Avenue Tease

During a feeding I got to see a glimpse of one of the new Fifth Avenue eyass' head.  It wasn't enough to claim I'd seen the eyass for sure, but it was close.  We should be able to get good pictures of the kids by mid-week.

Washington Square

I spent a few hours at Washington Square after work.   The eyasses were fed by the mother, who then went off to the cross on a nearby church. One eyass explored the ledge going a good way off the nest.

From the webcam, you can see the other eyass has it's leg caught in a plastic bag.  There are no signs that the eyass is any danger.  Hopefully, as the eyass gets older it will be able to remove the plastic on it's own. 

However, there is a slight chance that the bag could get twisted and tighten which would restrict circulation.  This would require intervention, so plans are being made to act if necessary.

Update: On Tuesday, 5/8/12, the eyass got free of the bag on its own.

Feeding Late In The Day

I like to witness things first had before I decide a nest is hatched.  Today, I got to see a late feeding so I know Pale Male has at least one eyass in the nest.

Early Signs of Hatching

It takes some skill to determine if a nest has hatched.  Is that a feeding you saw or just preening?  Is the female really sitting higher?  Did the male come in and look at a new eyass or was it something else that caught his eye?  Did you see a slice come from the nest?

At the Fifth Avenue nest there are signs that the hatching process has started.   I didn't see a feeding or a slice but I did see the female sit higher in the nest and spend a great deal of time off the nest bowl. 

I included lots of footage in today's video for those who want to form their own opinions.