The Wild Parrots of Riverside Park

After seeing these guys so often near my house, I decided to pay a visit to theirs.
Locating the birds by ear was easy, but they where extremely skittish and warily watched me as I stood beneath the West Side Highway.

There was one bird missing 3 toes.

After some time, I got them going to their nest.


Which had recently been DESTROYED, yet again. Which of course, they were rebuilding.

Yet AGAIN!!!

Keep on keepin on little bros!

Stop, Hey What's That Sound?

For the past few weeks, the 10 Monk Parakeets have been feeding, sunning and generally chilling out in Hancock Park on St. Nicholas Ave. It has afforded me a great opportunity to study how they go about socializing, finding food and water, avoiding predators and generally being awesome, chatty, squawky dudes. Here's some of the action.
Collecting sticks.

Searching rooftops for food,

and water.

Eating the seeds of black and honey locusts.

Flying in tight groups to avoid the ever-present hawks.

Spending time with a special someone below a red oak.


The 7th Annual Harlem Hawk walk is scheduled for next weekend 11/25 or 26 depending on which weather day is best.

Pornothology!

After only catching intermitten glimpses of the city's kestrels this winter, I made up for that today with a total of 7! The warm weather brought out all kinds of nesting behavior throughout the city. From the outwardly amorous,

To the more tender and sweet.



The young couple remodel the flat!






These kestrels by the Park were at it too!


While the female at St. John the Divine tests out the nest.



On 96th St. we saw three kestrel chattering high overhead. The flew off, but I was able to photograph one male!

There were also three crows there.
On the reservoir, this trio of crows picked over the ice for scraps.


I also got a great shot of this guy!

Peace to all the cool people I met today, and special shout out to Bruce who blogs over at www.urbanhawks.blogs.com.