Chasing Hawk Babies!

I've been chasing the red-tailed hawk babies at three spots in Manhattan so far this year: Central Park (Pale Male and Octavia have three kids this year), Grant's Tomb (there are three babies from that nest), and Tompkins Square Park (Dora and Christo have one baby, and are now fostering a second fledgling who was rescued in Brooklyn). In my first video of the offspring of the three nests, you get a chance to compare the kids. You'll note that the Tompkins Square kid is a bit younger (you'll get to see video of the new kid later).

An offspring of Pale Male and Octavia in a tree next to Central Park on Fifth Avenue, June 9.

A Grant's Tomb baby shows off the wings, June 11.

The Tompkins Square Park kid, offspring of Dora and Christo, branching out, June 11.

This first set of photos is of the Central Park babies.

These photos are of the Grant's Tomb baby, plus Mom, when she brought in food for her kids.

The Tompkins Square Park youngster, offspring of Christo and Dora.

Pale Male's Kids

Pale Male and Octavia have three baby hawks this year, and on June 1, the first kid fledged. On June 2, that kid was hanging out on Pilgrim Hill, south of the model boat pond. A second youngster left the nest on June 2, but was not terribly thrilled about spending the first day on a next-door building on an eighth-floor balcony, and was back on the nest on June 3.

The first of Pale Male's kids to fledge

The second to fledge, on a balcony

So it's time for more Chasing the Hawks in Central Park videos, and I filmed these two youngsters, plus Mom and Dad, on June 2. The second fledgling is a real crybaby, but I wasn't able to obtain clear sound of the wailing because the street noise was so loud, so I removed the audio. The photos and video of these birds were taken with the new Sony camera. I'm not yet sold on it, but will have to get used to it, I suppose.

The photos are not quite what I'd like, but I'm still getting used to the camera. They are a record of one of the first days after fledging. Octavia came to visit the first fledgling on top of a pine tree after bringing in a pigeon, but the shot didn't come out.

The Hawk Himself, and a Young Gull: Two New Videos

On July 17, I visited Governor's Island for the first time. I've already written about the young common terns we found there, and posted a video. Now I offer a new video of a young herring gull, set to waltzes by Frédéric Chopin, 

This young bird was such a joy to watch, as was the supervising parent. 

I found Pale Male in the Ramble on Sept. 9 and 10, the first day in the late afternoon over the chip path north of Azalea Pond, and the second day in the early afternoon just south of Azalea. I put together a video for the two days, hoping to show Pale Male's zen side. On Sept. 9 I was able to get eye level with him by climbing on a rock to be even with the branch he was on. It was thrilling to be that close, and to get closeup video of him.

On Sept. 9, the day I was eye level with Pale Male, I didn't have the best light for photographs. The video shows him off much better.

Pale Male just north of Azalea Pond, Sept. 9, 2016, from the chip path.

These photos have been lightened to try to show his eyes. The first of the four was taken from below; the other three I took from the rock.

Sept. 10, I found Pale Male south of Azalea Pond on my way through the park before the Yankees game. I watched him for about a half hour, then headed off to the Pond. My friends came to watch him, and reported later in the day that he had spent the afternoon there until he caught a mouse and at it in the Gill (the stream west of Azalea Pond). The little squirrel came down the tree, then remembered Pale Male was right above him. He froze, cried, then finally escaped back up the tree. Pale Male didn't pay too much attention to him.