Jungle Gyms!

As the newest crop of babies takes to the air, an interesting paradox has emerged. The scaffolding that had jeopardized the nesting phase of their life has now become a playground that aids the youngsters as they learn to fly. At the Cathedral, the previous years fledges had already moved into the Park by this time. But these guys use the various nooks, crannies and ledges to linger near their nest.

At times they seem to return to the nest, but are frequently lured away by the parents. Who says you can never go back?
I wanted to see if the Riverside Church peregrine family was experiencing a similar situation with the scaffolding over there. On the way over, I encountered these two raucous juvenile downy woodpeckers, flitting over Broadway!


On arrival in Riverside Park, I noticed a family of crows keeping low in the park, feeding on mullberries.

Meanwhile over at the scrape, I discovered this juvy getting ready to fledge!



I also discovered these two eyass that already had!


They definitely showed the same affinity for the scaffolding, with the juvys flying to and fro through the structure. While there, I met a woman who has been watching them for about 10 years. She relayed alot of good information on their history. One interesting tidbit was that they young fledge every year on the summer solstice. This makes alot of sense in that it would give the young diurnal raptors the best opportunity to perfect their skills. But how do the parents time such an event? Only Nature knows!
Last but not least, these new crop of pigeons growing fast outside my window!

Spring Symphony

The chorus of birds throughout the City's Parks resounds with the song of renewal. Flowers are blooming, songbirds are nesting and the raptors are sitting on their precious eggs. The perfect timing of all this implies a hidden conductor, silently signaling each section, in a master concert! With its characteristic pauses and crescendos, the music spans the entire range from the tiniest wing beats of the bumble bees, to the massive conglomeration of a huge flock of starlings roosting at dusk. Here's a pictoral equivalent of this masterpiece.







The new male, hunting hard over Morningside for his potential brood!

The resident male kestrel, doing the same!


Isolde, taking a break from nest sitting, atop St. Luke's

Also saw this male kestrel hunting house finches above Barnard campus.

At the nest on CCNY, still cant see if the female is brooding, but the male is following the same pattern as their Cathedral neighbors. Here he is hunting hard over Hamilton Heights, crow in tow!

While the female kestrel on 155th takes a break from nesting duty.

This ragged juvy rth also flew over 155th, stooping on Jackie Robinson Park.


So many storylines, how will it all play out? Will the Cathedral pair be successful despite their troubles, or will they go the way of the Fenway pair? Will the new nest at CCNY be a success? Will the many kestrels nests produce another prodigious crop of fledglings?

Only the master conductor knows, and in due time He will tell us all if we listen carefully enough!

New Year

Seems like a return to the starting point. The last of the fledglings of spring are totally independent by now. Resident raptors settle into their territories as they start to spar and court on the wind. Who knows what this year will bring, but its going to be a tall order to match the unbelievable production from around the city. Here's a few highlights from upper Manhattan over the past week.
A flyby by one of the Cathedral hawks,

Hedda Gobbler

Up in Inwood, those redtails are also highly visible over their turf.

The Broadway Bridge Peregrines also take notice.
While I was walking to the train, I saw a large flock of pigeons flyout from the El.
Right behind them was a young RTH, who must've flushed them from the structure.

Immediately the tercel flew out and stooped on the hawk, narrowly missing it, before pulling out right over head!

It then flew off towards Marble Hill, where I found it with its mate, who had already made a kill!


The female then flew off, with prey in tow, and landed right on the Bridge!


The male then flew out and attacked one of the Inwood Hill adults,

Heading home, I spotted the Cathedral male, atop the Horn of Gabriel!

I walked around to get a better view.

I also saw a big juvy Cooper's in a tree only about 30' from Bway Bridge. It saw me before I saw it and it was out of sight by the time I brought up my camera.
There were also these guys (and gal)!




Happy New Beginnings to us all!