Hunting Hawks

Lots of hungry hawks today. These are two different hawks making passes by the roof.
First this unscathed young male making a pass,


then this young hawk with two missing right primaries.

Lots of great hawk action, but very hard to follow. At one point there were 4 hawks, 2 peregrines, 1 kestrel and what seemed to be 3 bald eagles all in view. Oh and 4 monk parakeets also taking sun over 125th. Here's a few other choice shots.

It Takes An East Village

There was an email today on the raptorsnyc@googlegroups.com listserv about a trapped hawk in the East Village. After contacting the poster, it seemed there was a juvenile redtailed hawk that was stuck in the building air-shaft since before the blizzard. Both Bobby Horvath and myself arrived on the scene and after carefully coordination between myself, Franco (concerned tenant) and the Super, we were able to shoo the bird to a 4th floor window ledge where Bobby snagged it! I was very relieved as it was kind of sketchy and either bird or human could've been very easily hurt. This is why its great to have the raptorsnyc group, so that experienced people can attempt these rescues with out them turning tragic. In this case we wound up with an emaciated and tar stained bird that was had torn off the tips of most of the primaries as it flitted about in the narrow confines of the brick shaft.


Here you can see some of the tar hanging off its beak that was also on its feet and tail feathers. It also had a bit of blood from where it bit its tongue.


As I circled the block, I noticed the Marble Cemetery was just south so I wanted to see how the hawk may have been drawn in there while chasing a large flock of pigeons that congregates there. To my surprise, there was another juvenile red-tailed hawk on the very building I had just come from. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a nest somewhere very close to that area, that is separate and distinct from the nest near Washington Sq. Park. Perhaps it is the reconstituted Houston St. pair from 2008? I noticed Tompkins Sq. Park is just north of this location, but have not found a nest there. Also of note is an American Kestrel nest on this block and many people told me of the Common Raven found there. The East Village is going to the birds!!!

Hanging with the Horvaths

Got a chance to attend a hawk release over by the Queens Botannical Gardens. We released a total of 4 hawks, 3 of which were juvy redtailed hawks and 1 of which was this broadwinged hawk.


Next up were the three redtailed hawks.







We had a great time watching them all interact with their new environment and testing out their new freedom!

Special thanks to the Horvath's for their tireless work in fixing up these wayward birds till they have enough strength to make it on their own.

Soul Mate

Its a known fact that raptors mate for life. The peregrines at Broadway Bridge have been together for almost 10 years and in that time have sired numerous broods from the bounty to be found on their territory. At this nest I've previously found the remains of Pigeons, starlings, flickers, crows, grackles, woodcock, cuckoos, catbirds, thrashers, cedar waxwings and the occasional parakeet. In addition, they will also attempt to kill any other raptor that flies into their turf. One of their most hated intruders is the always present juvenile red-tailed hawk who tries to poach their pigeon flock. Today I was able to observe the pair as they launched a concerted attack on this wayward hawk just over, ironically enough, the neighborhood Target.

They drove it off past the VA hospital and then circled low over Baker's Field.

Here's the male landing next to her after failing to copulate.


They stayed there for some time, scanning the water for any passing birds. Then together they both flew off,


giving me a great look at them flying in tandem! They returned to the Bridge where again I heard the female utter her territorial "Eee-Chuck!" call, telling the male of an intruder.

To my astonishment, it was not another pesky hawk, but an adult male peregrine! It wheeled above and then dove at the perched male, breaking off just in time. It then lit out low over Broadway. Here's the resident male flying out in hot pursuit...

He eventually caught up with the challenger way south over Dyckman,

as they clashed over and over in a brutal and poetic loop. Eventually they were too tiny to see so I ran south after them. After some searching I was unable to find them. I noticed the sun began to set, so I thought I might have time left to visit Swindler's Cove, but couldnt make it so I went to nearby Sherman's Creek instead. Peering out over to the Bronx I heard the soft "chuuurrrrrrrr!" of a Belted Kingfisher. It was threatening some stray cat nearing its tree. As it flew off, I manage to grab these pics...


I was on such a bird high after that! I am just very thankful that such amazing natural beauty can be found amidst our paved and littered landscape. On a final note, over by the Sanitation Station there is now a huge colony of American Crows. I stopped counting after 40. Apparently they use the garbage trucks as their main food source and have really multiplied. I observed them for a bit today and got to meet the old matriarch of the bunch!

Here's one group of them discussing the relative merits of Wikileaks!

Hancock Monks

Over the past few days I've watched the Monk parakeets shelter from the gale in Hancock Park. Here's a collection of their beauty.