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!

Spring March

The warm weather tide is finally shifting through the area. The city's red tails have begun to brood, phoebes and kinglets are coming through and crocuses and daffodils are bursting forth. Here are some pix from the parks in Northern Manhattan.



The cathedral female still testing out the nest!

On 152nd St., the kestrels are still together, although no mating was observed.



After attempting to find the new nest in Highbridge (I wasnt successful, although Bruce was), I spotted this female kestrel hunting on 211th St.

I watched amazed as she darted in on some sparrows.

With a squeak from the bird, she hit it in midair and drove it to a rooftop where she landed the fatal blow! This is her flying off with her quarry to consume it nearby.

Up at Broadway Bridge, I saw 2 juveniles and 2 adults(the adults were over Inwood, while one juvy was over the el while the other was waaay out over Kingsbridge. While I didnt spot the falcons, I did watch these two debate making a nest on the bridge mooring.



Wending back home, I passed through Columbia campus where a hawk darted just above my head!

Hawkmenijad!


Meanwhile, in the North Woods, I happened upon this chap, sunning himself!

Neighborhood Pix

Due to a busy work schedule, I've only been able to get fleeting glimpses of my neighborhood raptors. I regularly see the new Cathedral male darting over St. Nicholas Ave. when I leave for work in the morning. And he can be found cavorting around the Cathedral with his mate when it starts to get dark. After observing him now for a few weeks, it's clear this bird has an altogether different personality than the previous male. While the prior hawk was reticent and epitomized the red-tail as an ambush hunter, this bird uses a different approach. Using his energy and poise, he will hawk through the side streets, flushing all sorts of quarry. I watched him sprint from Wadliegh at some starlings.

Easily missing, he continued over me and into the park, keyarr-ing all the way.

After alighting on 300CPN, he transited the park again and lit off for Morningside, emitting a phrase like keyarr--mating whine--keyyar--mating whine alternately.

It was amazing to feel the confidence and prowess of this new hawk!

I also caught the kestrels together, but no mating was observed.

The tagged female.


The colorful male.



Its always darkest before the dawn!

Love is a Dead Rat!

Nothing says devotion to a Red Tail hawk than a freshly caught Norwegian Brown Rat. The male brought it to the nest and the female here flies out with it. It took me two viewings to realize that when she exits the nest she actually transfers the rat from her beak to her talons in mid-flight!