Sunday, February 26, 2006

Accidental Raptors

It seems I cant go anywhere without finding some specie or other of raptors. On Friday I was over on 100th and Broadway, when I heard a familar kik-kik-kik and looked up to see a male kestrel flying along side his mate!
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I lost sight of her but found him a block away,
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perched atop a building.
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On Saturday, I decided to show my girlfriend around the east village. Overhead I spotted a red tailed hawk, shadowing the pigeons over 1st Ave.
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As we strolled the shops and community gardens, I again heard the kik-kik-kik and look up just in time to see a male kestrel swoop into its nest!
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The gruesome decor!
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And his flyout!
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A block away I spotted the female on a tv antenna!
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I've never seen one so dark!
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She could easily be mistaken for a merlin!
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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

All Raptors, All the Time

The day began with a red tail on the Towers
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and the female kestrel out in the open.
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As I looked right, I caught the large female red tail on a fire escape!
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Just then she alit,
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and gracefully
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sailed past the barbed wire!
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And then swung around
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and flew right past!
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Beating her wings in fast downward strokes
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she powers over the buildings cornice,
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out across 145th Street
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and into the Park,
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where she scattered a flock of pigeons.
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After leaving the Park, she was shadowed by a gull!
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From there, I found the juvy RTH stalking pigeons by the Meer!
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A quick bus ride on, I saw one of the 74th St. hawks plucking nesting material off a neighbor's balcony!
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And finally, high above the affairs of men, the two GM peregrines perched on top of Citicorp!
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A closer look...
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They took turns diving off with the utmost of confidence, one flew south
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and one flew back to the GM!
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One is molting in the primaries!
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Saturday, February 18, 2006

North by Northwest

The northwest wind over the past two days has been relentless. Dropping some 40F in 24 hrs, this cold front produced a variably cloudy day that at one point saw snow. Needless to say, hawks are made for this type of weather, especially a large and powerful bird like a red-tailed hawk, which thrives in the gale force winds. I endured the bitter conditions and was well rewarded for the effort. It began when I spotted the first year male with one tail feather missing begining a stoop!
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I see his intended quarry!
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For a moment, they touch!
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They are low now, diving into the park!
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A crow seizes this opportunity to make a move on the couple. It is also snowing quite hard now.
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But the large female with two missing primaries will have none of it!
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