Urban Hawk Update: Fordham Eyasses and Tulsa's Thunder Gives Watchers a Scare

Photograph by Christopher Lyons
One, Two, Three plus Momma Rose

Photograph by Christopher Lyons
Donna,
Rose has been spending a lot of time just hanging out with her youngsters, when there is no feeding going on. She preens while they watch her, she watches while they preen themselves, and I guess she's probably also making sure they don't do anything stupid, like go over the edge. Unlikely to happen, with the pigeon spikes there. All three look healthy--the one on the extreme left, (See top photo. D.B.)still in the nest, is most likely the youngest.
Chris

Photograph by Christopher Lyons
Rose keeps an eye peeled while the eyass looks over the edge.

Photograph by Christopher Lyons
The beginnings of flapping and hopping has begun at the Fordham nest. Rose wisely ducks her head. It's difficult to know who's fledged and who hasn't at Fordham as the fledged eyasses often make their way back to the nest using the near by trees and the surrounding taller buildings.






R. of Illinois's Thunder of Tulsa Update





Thunder, around 1 PM, suddenly leaped high up and out of sight. Camera operator could not find him. Panic on the observation posts. (Where is he where is he where is he someone run outside and check somebody help)Eventually camera operator found him about 4 feet up on the rim of the structure supporting the ball on the top of the tower, right out under the sky. He bobbled there in the wind (Thunder, not the camera operator) for heart stopping moments, then worked his way along a strut to under the ball,inside the nest area, basically in the rafters of the nest area.





Russell Mills posted this: "Well I grabbed the first news photographer I saw and we ran for the roof,then climbed up to the base of the tower. We looked all over the neighborhood -- holding our breath when we checked Peoria Ave. -- but couldn't spot him. By the time we came back inside the MC operator had found Thunder again with the camera. That bird is going to give me a heart attack yet!"

(Currently there are no watchers on the street below the nest. Everyone is at home watching the hawkcam. Perhaps it hasn't sunk in yet, that once Thunder takes off that in order to see all the moment to moment coverage of what is going on with Thunder and her parents that they are used to, they will have to watch in person. Yes, no doubt at times the TV station will get some footage, but it very likely won't be 24 hours a day. Nor have they discovered how much fun it can be to get together with others of your ilk. D. B.)

Male Goldfinch peers through the feeder.

Look who was staring at me through the glass. It must be another male Indigo Bunting besides Mr. I-won't-come-out-from-under-the-picnic-table. Either that or he's just had a big burst of testosterone or curiosity.
Donna Browne