4 Babies at Riverside!

Along with RBS, we got some wonderful looks at the peregrine family at Riverside Church.

Looks like there's 4 of those little stinkers flapping around. Two are just near the scrape (here Mom delivers food).

1 has partially fledged and runs around on the 2nd tier scaffolding from the top,

while the fully fledged 1 is on the 3rd tier (this is the only shot I got).

Parent trying to lure the youngsters out with food.

What an amazing backdrop!

Almost Fledging (Part 3)

Although not directly observable, the Riverside Peregrines are behaving as if they have young. Using the 55 Water St. peregrines as a guide, Id say they are about 1-2 weeks away from fledging. Here they are drying out on the scaffolding that still remains around the Church.



The male before stooping out on Morningside.

Talk about synchronicity!

More Harlem Raptors

Teaming up with fellow hawk-lover/blogger, Courtney, we set about to observe some of the Harlem raptors that have been visiting Columbia Campus. From my roof, the resident female kestrel appeared on scene.

She then flew to a ledge on my building!

Looks like she could use a little bath!

But I find her entralling none-the-less.

She then flew out to the south this time...

and landed on a roof top deck on 120th.

From there we noticed the Cathedral female on a familiar perch on Morningside Ave.

A crow came through to protest.

At that another adult Redtailed Hawk soared past and continued North. We then went to Riverside to check out the peregrines.
We found both on a familiar perch, and watched in amazement as a pigeon blindly stumbled past. Both falcons dove down on her, almost to street level, but the pigeon escaped. Suddenly, Courtney noticed 3 large redtailed hawks, kettling below the treeline in Riverside Park. I was only able to photograph one of them, a juvy, although one of the other's seemed to be and adult. Robert has also been tracking these birds with the hope of finding another RTH nest. If you have any additional sightings, let me know!

Peregine Fledgling Updates

Now that almost all active raptor nests that I'm following have fledged, here's an update on the totals for peregrines so far.
55 Water: 4 successful fledges
MetLife: 2 successful fledges
Broadway Bridge: 3 successful fledges
Columbia Presbyterian:???
Riverside Church:???
Jersey City:???
Verrazano Bridge: ???
Marine Mid-Land Bridge: ???

Swinging by Riverside Church, I still have not seen any young here, but there remains ample evidence that there are eyasses in the scrape. I continually find both parents buzzing the nest and displaying food, seemingly trying to lure the young birds out.




Here's the female outside the scrape (center with Lion's head), calling to the nest.



Meanwhile up at Broadway Bridge, I still have not been able to tell if the rescue of the young peregrine was successful. When I arrived, I quickly spotted one parent and one juvy, hiding among the stairwell of the south tower.

While another adult flew in with prey for another youngster.

Who then promptly took off...



Here they chase each other around the bridge!


Later I watched in amazement as the adult male lit out over Kingsbridge to pursue pigeons!

He tore down at a group, forcing them to scatter. They wheeled and spun over Target, but the falcon had missed! It returned to the bridge, but there wasnt enough light to focus...

Instead of landing however, it did a tight turn...

and homed in on a perched pigeon!



Reap, indeed!
Flying off with the prize.


The light was fading and I hopped on the train to go home. As the 1 pulled into the 215th St. stop, I heard a peregrine calling above Inwood Hill! I exited the train on the platform, and saw both parents repeatedly diving on a building and calling. I could not see what they were so upset about, but one of the juveniles was there also.


The female made pass after pass, ignoring all sorts of prey that was flushed...such as this swift.

She finally lit out towards the bridge after some 20 minutes.

I said a special prayer for this family, and all raptor families, as they continue to beat the odds in this unforgiving City.


PS It seems that the one of the pioneers in urban Peregrine nesting--the Kodak Building, up in Rochester, N--is going to destroy the scrape after all these years. I sincerely hope they reconsider their decision and I urge all bird lovers to boycott Kodak products until they change their stance.

Cathedral, We Have a Problem!

Since the appearance of scaffolding at the Cathedral, I have been continually wishing for the best for all parties involved. Today however, I had to come clean on the fact that the Cathedral renovation is causing a serious issue for the hawks. From my roof, I saw only fleeting glimpses of the hawks, and none near the nest. Continuing on to Morningside, I saw neither hide nor hair of either hawk for two hours. I did see numerous construction workers going both above and below the nest in a steady pace.

Another photographer, Calvorn showed up and I began to lament the situation. We were about to leave, when we noticed the construction workers begin to break for lunch. At that exact moment, both hawks flew in from the south Close, one into the nest, the second dove from directly above a worker's head. Unfortunately my camera was packed, but I whipped it out just in time to catch the female briefly on the nest.

The female quickly exited. Next the male then flew onto a finial above the nest.



It then flew over to St. Luke's.


Eyeing the construction workers the whole time.



WTF is up with that food aid bag?!?



Back and forth they both flew, making feints at the nest, sometimes landing nearby, sometimes circling back.



They were clearly stressed and I wondered if the Cathedral had even warned the worker's of the danger to them. Furthermore, it is sad to see an institution which I respect and honor, up end the very ethics for which I do admire it.
With all the workmen gone, the female alit on the trumpet.


I was out of position when it happened, but the male eventually flew out of nowhere and copulated with her, thereby missing perhaps the best shot of all time! But that sting is nothing to the sting I would feel if a person or hawk was injured over such a blind misunderstanding.
Once the workmen had receded, the female returned to the nest!


The male then flew in with prey...a sure sign of his ability to provide food for the possible brood. It is also significant that it was a squab, as baby birds are often fed to the young eyass.

The newlyweds redtail to redtail!

They both then flew out. Landing on separate wings of St. Luke's. The female partially consumed the meal while the male lit out to ward off another hawk, high above morningside.




Later I found the male hunting hard over 111th and St. Nick.




In a parallel situation, the peregrines will also attempt to nest on the heavily scaffolded Riverside Church. Here are my first ever pix of peregrine's mating!