Keep on Keepin' On

The nesting picture for NYC raptors has begun to solidify. After a recent update from Brett, who'se office overlooks 888 7th Ave., it seems that in addition to the 5th ave. nest, this nest will also not produce young this season. But there are definite stirrings up at the Cathedral, while CCNY remainins unknown. And the Fordham red tailed nest also is exhibiting feeding behavior! There also seems to be very promising news on the kestrel and peregrine fronts. I managed to catch up with the peregrines of 55 Water St., who have three chicks, on a lunch break (literally for us both).


Here's some video of the male flying in with prey to a calling female. She then runs to accept the gift, while he flies back out to Water St!

Down on the waterfront, I saw 1 DC cormorant, 1 Black backed gull and these guys...

a raft of brandt!

In the North Woods, I spotted many species up close.
Female Rosebreasted Grosbeak

And the male.

YR Warbler

Black and white Warbler

From my roof, I also saw and heard many birds passing through including Goldfinches, House Finches, warblers and orioles.

Suddenly, Norman crested over the buildings

Displaying a rat! Isolde sat up high on the nest awaiting a gift that never came.

But he did not fly in to the nest...instead he flew off east. Later I saw him over CPW and 104th, rat-less. Also of note, Norman is molting in his first secondary feathers. I also ran across this piece of disturbing work in the North Woods.

OK, someone needs to start a bloggy.
Winding west to the nest itself,



I saw the female sitting high up in the nest. Here's what is surely a feeding.

This guy insisted on me taking his picture. (He literally landed on the fence between where the camera was pointed and the nest).

Finally, in a bit of news about how technology and conservation can go hand in hand...the bionic eagle!

Nest Number 8!

Man, this has been the year for new Red-tailed Hawk nests. There's really a triple irony behind this one. First irony: this is a first year nest, that has popped up on a structure that I have fotographed hawks on numerous time in the past. Additionally this structure and nest would have been visible from an apartment that I had on 145th St...from my living room couch no less. Second irony: this is yet another nest that was first discovered by a dog walker. Ironic because many times the agenda of dog walkers has conflicted with bird watchers. The third and final irony: I had been at this site two weeks prior, fotographed a hawk right near the nest, but failed to recognize it. Sometimes it takes the observations of others to tell us what is directly under our noses.
*Just found out that this the person who reported this nest is not a dog walker. So we holding then at 2 ironies, down from 3. Im sure there will be more irony to report as time goes on.
I found the nest on the east side, overlooking Hamilton Heights.

The bird made some adjustments to the new nest and then sat up tall. It was eyeing something in the distance. After some time, it rocketed out of the nest and dove on some starlings in the park.


It leveled out empty taloned and then landed in the park.



And flew back to the nest on what was a perfect example of dynamic soaring.

More shots of the nest. Not sure what the gargoyle is, but looks like a knave.


Thanks to Bruce for passing on another nest tip--again, from a dog walker.