Nesting Season '09

So far '09 is looking positive as all the familiar resident raptors claim their territory from over-wintering juveniles. A few early pairs are already sitting on the nest...here's some updates.
One of the Cathedral hawks over the Dwyer. They have both been making forays northward recently.

At 150th I saw an adult rth ward off this juvy.

As it passes the Polo Grounds.

I have seen the kestrels around here too, but none of them mating yet. I did catch this pair at 177th St. and Amsterdam Ave.



Nearby at Highbridge,

This pair understand that the key to a relationship is good communication!

A closeup of the female.


She sprang down from the branch, weaving through the woods, redtail bobbing!
I tracked her to the nest where she settled down. (Same location as 2 yrs ago).

Further north, the Broadway Peregrines are still doing their thing. I got shots of them mating again, but they were bad. Yes, it has come to this, Im censoring falcon porn.




Last but not least, I made out this curious sight in Highbridge, near the hawk nest.

Nice raccoon loft!

If anyone has any info on raptors sightings in Harlem, let me know. Good luck!

Recent Raptors

Juvenile in Highbridge.

Peregrines on Broadway Bridge.


She flew out, calling to him!




As a side note. I've documented before the vast numbers of starlings that roost here. It seems that somebody is poisoning the starlings. There have been similar incidents in New Jersey and Pennslyvania recently. The peregrines prey upon them but such are their numbers that they dont make much of a dent in the population.



Female of Inwood Hill.

note the injured wing.

Ranger Rob had some pix of her just earlier in a duel with an eagle over the ballfields.

she leapt branch by branch till she made it to the nest. Redtailed hawks are tough birds, lets hope for the best. She did have a full crop though.

On the way out, this merlin!

Cathedral Couple Copulates Conspicuously!

Having looked over the past years blog entries, I knew that the Cathedral couple would be active around the nest, if in fact they were going to use the same location as previous years. After locating them on St. Luke's from my roof, I jetted over post-haste to see if the same nesting behavior could be observed. I found them both on a favored air-conditioner, where the male promptly took off!





He landed in a nearby tree,

where he wrestled off large branches in his powerful grasp!

Both he and Isolde gave me incredible looks as they ferried twigs to and from the nest!








This went on for some time, and a small crowd of awe-struck people witnessed the spectacle of the two grand animals making low passes!




The Cooper's that Rbs has been tracking, briefly joined the action.

Hawk Shadow!

What do you get when you cross a stick and a hawk?


Each bird made about 3 sorties to the nest, spending a good amount of time there...


The female finally flew out and landed in the St. Luke's yard...


at which point the male flew over,

and did what Nature has so inclined these Hawks to do!




They were both off then, out hunting over Morningside. Good luck to you and all the nesting NYC Raptors! Let's hope the Cathedral is a bit more accomodating this year, giving you the space you need and site free of potential contamination!

Harlem Ducks

Still some great wintering ducks to be found in Harlem. The pair of canvasbacks at Harlem Piers is now 2 pair...

and giving great looks!


Here's some vid of the quartet diving, preening and feeding!


In addition to these salt water beauties, a family of wood ducks has been sheltering at the fresh water Harlem Meer.


The cautious male extending his neck!

The juvenile female.