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Other Sunday Hawks
In addition to the Central Park South hawks, I saw three other Red-tails on Sunday.
Has the CPS nest been relocated?
Lincoln Karim reports that he has seen the Central Park South pair bringing sticks to 888 7th Avenue. So, it's likely that the nest will be in a new location in 2007.
Charlotte and Junior on the Essex House sign around Noon.
Junior taking off heading north.
The major buildings in the neighborhood as seen from The Pond.
The old nest building Trump Park (the nest is out of view on the west facing side), and the possible new site on 888 Seventh Avenue. 888 is across the street from Carnegie Hall and is between 56th and 57th Street.
We'll know in a few weeks where the nest will be for sure. Anyone have a high western view from Carnegie Hill tower? If you do, get out your binoculars and send in a report! The possible nest location is on the lower row of vents, 12 stories from the top. From the row of windows one lower than the vents, go five windows from the left, then go up to the lower row of vents. You'll see a beam rather than vent. This is the opening being use by the hawks. [Update: It looks like there are multiple entry and exit points.]
If they have moved the nest, should we start calling them the Carnegie Hall Hawks?
Northern Pintail
The Northern Pintail whose been on the pond at the SE of the park was in plain sight on Sunday. What an attractive drake he is. He's a new bird for my Central Park list.
Saturday Hawks
On Saturday, I started out at the bottom of the park.
Junior was on the CNN sign and then...
...moved north. He must have a perch around 65th and Central Park West, but I can't figure out where.
Heading north, Pale Male was on a streetlight above the east drive, around Cleopatra's Needle. He quickly took off after a Cooper's Hawk.
When we caught up to him, he had prey. Did he snatch if from the Cooper's Hawk? It all happened quickly and just out of view.
After calling for Lola, who didn't arrive to share the leftovers, Pale Male landed on a 5th Avenue window.
After about fifteen minutes, he landed in a tree that would be his roost for the night.
Central Park West
Central Park West has two regulars these day, Lola on the Beresford and our 86th Street regular.
Beresford Couple
Cooper's Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk and American Woodcock
I started my Saturday afternoon in Central Park in the SE corner.
I walked north and found this juvenile Cooper's Hawk among a group of crows below the Zoo. I ended up being able to follow the juvenile, as it traveled north all the way up to the Oven, where I lost track of the hawk.
When I got to the Model Boat Pond, I could see Lola enjoying the warmth from the vent of a chimney on a building at 79th and Fifth Avenue.
The Cooper's hawk landed in a tree directly above the hawk bench.
Cold? Just fluff up your down coat.
The Cooper's Hawk led me to the oven, where there were two American Woodcocks along the small stream that flows into the Lake. It was one of the few areas in the park that had some unfrozen ground.
In the fall, it's rare to see an American Woodcock moving about. You usually see them sitting still or flying when flushed by dogs. In the cold weather and the snow, we had an unusual treat of seeing them feeding. They stick their long beaks into the mud looking for food.
Lola was still on the vent, as I left the park. The Boathouse cafe is closed for remodeling, so there was no hot chocolate to extend my stay!
86th Street Hawk Still Around
The 86th Street hawk is still around.
The hawk who has been roosting along Central Park West is still there.
The hawk flew off and went into the 90's on Saturday evening. It was too cold to go chasing after it.
Squab Tartar
I got to the park mid-afternoon on Saturday, to find a quiet park due to the sub-freezing temperatures. I ran into Lincoln Karim at the edge of the Model Boat Pond. He had Lola in his sights atop the "Oreo" building at 79th Street. A man came up to us and said, "You might be interested in the huge bird just east of the boat house."
The huge bird, was Pale Male who was already eating a pigeon.
After awhile, he took off for a tree across the drive, over the Boathouse.
Eventually, he made his way slightly northeast to a tree along the east drive. He called Lola, who landed across in a tree on the west side of the drive.
Lola sat for awhile, despite his calling before making her way to the leftovers.
She had waited until Pale Male had moved away from the carcass before she moved.
Pale Male didn't wait very long after handing off the food to fly away. He settled into a tree just west of the Alice in Wonderland sculpture.