Ecuador Mi Pais

Osprey vs Eagle

The Cradle Will Rock

After thinking this nest had failed, lo and behold there's a lone chick. Still retaining his floof, its a late but very welcome baby. Between the eagles, osprey and kestrels, and all the other wildlife thats taken hold in the remains of this abandoned place, its seems only when we leave things alone do they truly flourish. She mounts a spirited defense, combing the surrounding osprey back. Although half the weight, Osprey are themselves extremely territorial and attack when they can. In their shadow the kestrels find a refuge of their own! Although even North Americas smallest (by weight) and largest (by weight) still have their impasse!

Return to the Osprey Maze

Unfortunately it appears the Bald Eagle nest failed this year. But that doesnt stop them from harassing and generally lording over the Osprey Maze. And while its sad this nest was not successful, bald eagles are enjoying a huge resurgence in NJ. In addition, the Osprey are back and in even greater number this time. I counted a few more nests this year so at this point lets just say they are every where. At some point I might even do a survey of the entire area. One of the cooler things in the day was the discovery of a kestrel nest! This is the first one I've found in Monmouth County. What's interesting about it is that they made it at the foot of the eagle nest, undoubtedly for the protection from hawks that it provides. Here you can see they took an old starling nest in this light fixture, and the eagle nest is right there next to it. What they do is slide over the light bulb and I guess there a cavity back there. Havent been in the night to see if the light is actually on but Im guessing there's no way it is as those sodium lights get super hot.

Tayra Family

Whale watching on the Jersey Shore

For the next 4 weeks or so, fantastic cetacean and also turtle watching along the Jersey Shore. If you dont know where to go, just take the train to Asbury Park at high tide and walk to the boardwalk. Point your binoculars at the water. Be patient...maybe eat a taco.

Summer Solstice

The Jersey Shore is really coming into its own now. Even tho the babies are out of the nest, the parents stick close by due to the incessant Osprey attacks! The eagles have fledged and the peregrines are not too far behind. This year the Peregrines ganked the resident Osprey nest, thus they are up high on a gigantic stick nest. The Osprey that were evicted, built their nest on a nearby telephone pole. From the right angle, you can get both nests, with young in one shot! Highlight of the day was the presence of a kestrel nest! In one morning, I was able to see North America's largest and smallest raptors nesting, foraging and generally being the badass birdys they are!

Monmouth County Bald Eagles

The Osprey Maze

There's a certain corner of the Jersey shore where one can observe over 3 dozen osprey nests. On the remains of the old Fort Monmouth, it seems that one can find their nests cheek by jowl down its abandoned winding streets. Amazingly in the heart of this sanctuary is a successful Bald Eagle nest with 2 chicks in it! Even more amazingly there are a few redtailed hawk nests sprinkled in there as well as a bold peregrine family that has stolen an Osprey nest for themselves! They take on any bird that dares enter its airspace. Last week I watched the dad track down this laughing gull and decapitate it while loudly eee-chucking. Who'se laughing now bitch?

Mockingbird vs Peregrine

Tayra

Turquoise Jay

Wonderful to see them interacting and working on the nest. Its not 100% that they will use it but they sure seem interested!

Plate-billed Mountain Toucan

A very shy and intelligent bird. They can be skittish even at the feeders but I got lucky to them display and call!

Osprey Bath

Spirit Hawk

From internet history this hawk is at least 10 years old. Native people in this area considered it a Spirit Animal. The logic being that since it stood out so much and was so easy to track and kill, that it represented the essence of the animal, almost like an avatar and was not to be hunted or ever fucked with. For me, I had tried to see this bird for the past 5 years (since moving to NJ). Today I found it on a remote foot path on the Rutgers Campus, just after it caught a robin. It was too busy wolfing it down to notice my approach. As soon as it was done, it looked directly at me and flew up and away!

Cops Rescue Coopers

A young cooper's smashed through a window in the Village. As is common, the NYPD gets onsite before anyone trained to do this but despite that, they managed to free it. Glad it all worked well. Thanks to R. DeNiro for the videos and call to Audubon Society. If a bird of prey is trapped or in trouble, always try this link to the Audubon Society for info first.

Hudson Yards Saw-whet Owl Rescue

Definitely a very weird and difficult rescue of a Saw-whet Owl trapped in the maintenance floor of one of the new Hudson Yards buildings. Luckily there were two very concerned and compassionate men, Daniel and Rob, who alerted us and then worked with us to get him in a very active construction site. At first myself and Ranger Rob Mastrianni tried for it but he kept slipping away. Rather than risk injury or stress we backed off and the next day Bobby Horvath of WINORR showed up with a reaaaaaaaaly long net and was able to snag him! All donations to WINORR can be make through their Facebook page or GoFundme.

LIU Hawk Rescue

LIU hawk rescue from yesterday. A young red-tailed hawk fledged from the nest about a week too early. It got trapped in a garbage area so we rescued her and is being rehabbed out on Long Island at WINORR.

Ciff Swallows