FLASH! Could Double Dipping Greed Be the Real Reason Riverside Hawks Have to Die of Poison?

I received the information below in the comments section of the blog a few moments ago.

John Herrold was also in the news last year regarding the uncommon "double dipping" salary arrangement he has with both the city AND the non-profit Riverside Park Fund.

For example, NYC paid John Herrold $94,099 to run Riverside Park in 2008, (the year the three eyasses died of poison on the nest. D.B.) while at the same time the non-profit Riverside Park Fund Inc. paid him an additional $33,000. (Unfortunately, it seems that being well-connected is the primary consideration when choosing a park administrator.)

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-07-11/local/27069594_1_specific-parks-recreation-commissioner-adrian-benepe-city
Could Mr. Herrold be having a conflict of interest here? Though he was told by Parks to follow certain procedures for the hawks benefit, he didn't. There appeared to be a communication breakdown.

Could it be that Mr. Herrold had suddenly grown deaf due to the fact that he was afraid an unenlightened citizen who contributed to the Riverside Park Fund would take umbrage about his complying with directives from Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation?

Might he fear that person might see a rat? (Remember the issue of the Director of Recreation aggressively attempting to remove Riverside Mom and the kid's food? Was this due to fear of a deep-pocketed-rat-a-phobe who is a Friend of Riverside Park? )

Is it really so much easier, though certainly not moral, to snatch Riverside Mom's food and poison rats than to clean up the parks nasty garbage mess and put the grass seed in metal containers with metal lids and control the rats that way?

After all Adrian Benepe has lots of parks to keep track of and maybe he just wouldn't notice.

(Still working on today's blog containing some all sorts of things of particular interest plus some very good news about Washington Square. Hope to have it up tonight.)

Donegal Browne

Screen Captures of Violet"s Injured Foot and NYTimes Blog Chat Concerning the Fishing Line That Had Violet Tethered to the Nest

If you have not read the next post down, please do that first so you are up to speed on the situation with Washington Square Violet's injured foot. Then come on back up and look at the images. Try double clicking on the captures. Some of you will get an enlarged image on a separate screen . Some of you will only get an enlarged photo on some of the pictures. Some none at all.

Why some and not others? One of the many mysteries of Blogger.


Screen Captures by Julia G of CT, courtesy of the NYTimes and New York University

From alert Hawk Cam Watcher Julia G of CT--

Here's some screen caps of Violet's right foot - it looks swollen near the band. She has limited movement around the perimeter of the nest but does appear to be tethered by something. The last screen shot shows an apparently empty nest but it lasted less than a minute and it seemed that Vi was just to the left and off camera.

On the bright side, I watched her shred some food for the eyeass and eat a little herself about 7am EST. Bobby just brought some more food at 8am EST.

I have to go to a meeting but will check e-mail.

Thanks,

Julia G in CT

Earlier Violet's bad band had become entangled with something on the nest and it was thought that she was hooked to the nest. Eventually she was able to fly off and then she returned to tend her eyass and eggs.

A segment of NYTimes Chat concerning Violet being tethered to the nest by fishing line.

NYT blog

327. Cathy NYC What's wrong with the parent's right foot? I thought it was just cramped up..But something is wrong. Her/his talon is tuck in her foot??? Poor thing. What's wrong?

337. Julia CT Around 7pm EST the parent stood on the side of the nest and I watched the eyeass moving around and craning its neck to look at the world - amazing!

Cathy, I saw a problem with the parent's right foot, but it looked like it was caught in a string or line, looped about 3" in length, that's secured somehow by that Spanish-moss-looking clump in the 11 o'clock position on the nest rim. The parent struggled to free its leg for about 3-4 minutes, then settled back on the nest.

Could the band have caught on a bit of string? Can the parent fly? This poor RTH family can't seem to catch a break....

336.Jeanne Brooklyn, NY Now the hawk seems to be caught on some blue plastic string material in the nest. I think that is what is wrapped around the left leg. Is there any way to help this situation? The hawk can't take off and the foot is looking pretty bad. The male did drop off a rodent and the female is feeding the eyass.

337. Adrien NY How wonderful to see Violet feeding the new chick! But I am a little concerned about Violet's right foot. It looks swollen and it seems she is favoring it or limping as she moves around the nest. As well it looks like some filament might be wrapped around and constricting her ankle. Can one of the hawk experts take a look at this and give us some feedback? Thank you.

338. DPark Palouse, WA FOOT TANGLED IN "FISHLINE"

At about 7pm ED,T Friday May 6 I got a clear look at the issue with Violet's(?) foot problem. The blueish blob left of center of nest appears to be a lump of tangled fishline (it's been there for weeks). There is a length of line extending from the blob, maybe 6-9 inches long and is tangled around her right foot. As of this time she could not free herself and is/was tethered to the nest, as the blob of line appers to be tangled within the nest. She is trapped. Unbelievable the number of human-caused

hazards that these birds encounter just in course of living their lives.

Thanks again,

Julia G

Milford, CT

Note how swollen Violet's foot and leg are.


Though having some trouble with balance previously, Violet was able to successfully feed the newly hatched eyass. Keep your fingers crossed for the whole family.

D.B.

Hawk Watching--Exhaltation and Despair, "One woe doth tread upon anothers heels, so fast they folow." from Hamlet

Photograph courtesy of Emily S. Rueb/The New York Times
Note Violet's foot in the bottom right corner of the photo. Just so there is no misunderstanding-- One might think that her curled toes were abnormal. Not this time. In reality it is her other leg that has the problem . In order to protect their offspring from their lethal feet, Red-tails curl their talons under when in the nest.


Photo courtesy of Time.com
Try to get a look at Violet's leg on the left in the photo, her right leg in reality.

FIRST THE EXHALTATION OF AN EGG HATCHING--
from Huffington Post

A miracle happened this morning.

A red-tailed hawk egg hatched live on camera, despite many saying it had already been "past its expiration date."

The live feed, set up outside the 12th-floor the office of the president of New York University, has been chronicling the potential hatching of these red-tailed hawk eggs for days. The New York Times said in all likelihood the eggs were void of life as of Tuesday morning.

Well they've never been happier to be wrong.

If you can't see the newborn on the feed below, you can see it here, in a screenshot from the NY Times City Room blog. When the video of the hatching becomes available, we'll be sure to update.

However, it's still unknown whether or not the final two eggs are viable.

Then a foreboding of despair, an email from Julia G in CT with a screen capture comparing Bobby and Violet’s legs arrived. One of Violet's legs did not look good at all. (As yet haven’t been able to format the screen capture into the blog but we’re working on it.)

Hi Donegal,

Just a quick line to update you - I located WINORR (Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation), which I believe is Bobby Horvath's organization, on Facebook. They received several comments apprising them of the situation and report that they are "working on this hawk situation."

I also left a voicemail message for good measure offering my screen caps showing Vi's leg in detail.

I e-mailed Prof. Colin Jerolmack, figuring he would be able to make the connections on the NYU side, and he very kindly e-mailed back. The rehabbers are on the case, and will have to work out a plan that meets everyone's requirements. The president's window does not open from the inside, etc. It sounds to me like they'll do their best but they don't want to raise everyone's hopes unrealistically, which makes sense.

Still, it raises the question, how did they install the camera, and recently upgrade the nighttime infrared? They must have some sort of access. In any event, with Bobby Horvath on the case, I am confident that if there is a solution, he will find it.

So that's the news from Washington Square - keeping all fingers and toes crossed for Violet.

Sincerely,

Julia G in CT

Julia, from my understanding all the tech is being done from inside the window through the glass. and yes, it is the Horvaths at WINNORR.

DB

Then direct from NYU, an email from Myisha Priest, who spearheaded the WildNYC Seminar and teaches at the Galatin School

Dear Donna,

Have you heard about the injury to Violet's foot? Bobby and Cathy Horvath are coming today to see if they can help.

Myisha

Here is the conversation from the RaptorsNYC chatroom:

This bird was brought to our attention back in the winter when Lincoln took pictures of her . She was not nesting or breeding and free flying in lower Manhattan . We contacted the bird banding lab about it and there wasn't much that could be done considering the circumstances .

Today she did have something tangled around her leg as well as showing some balance problems also. There is considerable swelling and a possibility of permanent damage or even loss of the limb if something isn't done to remove the band.

The NY Times people contacted us half a dozen times tonight but we aren't convinced intervention is necessary at this time since their concern is the recent hatchling . We also received numerous e mails from other unknown folks across the country who are watching the live cam.

The Times folks have to contact the school people for permission and assistance to get us to the roof to assess the possibility of catching her to remove the band and treat the leg as best we can in a short period and return her right away .

They are usually extremely defensive parents and our hope is she would stay on the nest as we lower 2 nets along the face of the building and when they are close she grabs at at least one enough to get tangled and we raise her to the roof. This is no guarantee and she could just fly off as well when disturbed and not give us a chance to catch her.

Another option might be lowering a falconry trap with a pigeon inside and if she strikes at it shed get caught in the nylon nooses and then we lift the trap and her as well up to the roof for the same process. Its been this way for months or even longer but now is probably the best time to act as once the young are more mobile theres a chance of spooking them and causing harm . They asked if there was any other rehabbers that could do this at a better time and we said no that they are free to try to find someone but we would like the opportunity to help this girl sooner than later.

The window is a fixed pane and not removable so the only other way is to work off the roof which will not be an easy task but Cathy and I and more than willing to try. I know in their hearts the people involved care very much about the new hatch and the other 2 potential young but the adult will not be around another season to breed again if nothing is done with the leg situation deteriorates and now is the best time to attempt to do anything.

Bobby Horvath

1.PM Saturday—From Robin of Illinois!

Violet is keeping her weight on her good foot, and feeding her eyass, seemingly without problem, including standing on the prey and pulling meat off of it for feeding. I've seen her fly off the nest and back again. I think that Bobby brought the meal she is currently feeding the little one. Bobby (father) was on the nest with Violet and the eyass briefly just now. No updates of news on rescue plans. I do think I see a horizontal crack in the egg currently closest to the camera, but of course, could be a bit of grass.

Then stalwart contributor Robin of Illinois sent in the following news brief from-- http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/

Around 4 p.m. Saturday, Robert and Cathy Horvath, rehabilitators from Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation on Long Island, went into the president's office at New York University to check on Violet and whether she could be reached from the window.

They determined that she could and should be captured and treated, but the Horvaths did not have all the necessary harnesses and safety equipment with them.

They will return within a few days -- the day has not yet been determined -- to do the job. Mr. Horvath said that the band has been stuck there for months and another day or two should not make a difference.
Here is all we know about the situation:

The thing stuck on Violet's leg: Is a government-issued metal wildlife band with (illegible) numbers on it, placed by a researcher. It needs to be removed with a pliers and screwdriver. Bands usually dangle around birds' ankles like bracelets, but somehow this band was forced up to about midway up the bird equivalent of the human shin, and it is constricting her blood flow. Mr. Horvath said that this is a very rare occurrence and he did not know how it could have happened.

Violet's condition: Violet's right leg is swollen to two or three times the size of her left. When she stands, she "knuckles," meaning that her toes curl under. "There could be permanent nerve damage already present that we can't reverse," Mr. Horvath said. "As far as pain, we don't think she's in pain anymore."

Mr. Horvath said that Violet has had the band stuck on her leg for months. He said that Lincoln Karim, the wildlife videographer who maintains PaleMale.com, sent him a photo in December or January of a bird with a band stuck on its leg, looking to find out if it could be treated. Mr. Horvath said he told Mr. Karim at the time that the hawk, which was not nesting, could probably not be trapped.

That hawk turned out be Violet, Mr. Horvath said. He did not realize it was the same bird until he was sent photos of her on Friday. (Mr. Karim did not immediately respond to an e-mail.)

Window access: The window that looks out on the nest opens out, not up and down, and cannot be opened without knocking the nest off. But the adjacent window, about six feet away, shares the same ledge and can be opened safely.

The action plan: Mr. Horvath said he would lean partly out the adjacent window, wearing a harness, and try to net Violet. He would bring her into the room, and while he held her, his wife would pry off the band.

They would clean her wound, treat it topically with antibiotic cream and orally with an antibiotic pill, and put her back on the ledge. The entire operation, if it goes smoothly, would take no than five minutes.

The prognosis: Even if Violet can be captured without harm to her or her brood, there are no guarantees regarding her leg. "We don't know what's the condition of flesh or bone or infection underneath the band," Mr. Horvath said.

Even if her leg appears unsalvageable, the Horvaths would put her back on the nest so that she could continue to help rear her young. The father hawk, Bobby, can take over feeding the eyasses if she is unable to manage it. Perhaps after the eyasses have fledged, Violet could be recaptured and taken in for longer treatment. A one-legged hawk cannot survive in the wild.

"If this was a bird that didn't have babies, we'd be taking this bird to our house and treating it for weeks," Mr. Horvath said. "We don't have that luxury now."

And a follow up note from Julia G. of CT who sent in screen captures of the comparison of Violet's and NYU Bobby's legs for comparison.

Hello Donegal,

Just an update to apprise you that this afternoon at about 5pm EST, it looked like Violet was able to fly off the nest from the one o'clock position, so I'm pretty sure she wasn't just off camera. Both Violet and Bobby flew back onto the nest about two minutes later, then Bobby took off and Vi snuggled back down on the nest.

I took screen caps of Bobby and Vi's feet for comparison, and Vi still appears to have a swollen right leg. So it may just be a question of monitoring the situation and treating the injury should the opportunity present itself, rather than intervention.

It really is quite a learning curve, as in learning not to overreact or under react to seeing things we probably walk by every day, blissfully unaware of the little dramas unfolding just out of sight. I'll try to learn a little faster!

Sincerely,

Julia G

Though hawk watchers have been having their share of despair there is also exhaltation too. Sometimes several shifts from one to the other in the same day. Like today...first a hatch, then Violet's leg hooked to the nest, then Violet off the nest, and back on again. And exhaltation that she was able to feed the eyass...very good news!

Then suddenly a not from Karen Anne Kolling of RI, she of the gonzo deck--She spied her first live hawk's nest after all these years of hawk watching by proxy!

I saw a hawks' nest today!!!!!!!!!! For the first time ever. I was in the woods, out on a dirt road, walking to my car, and a couple of ladies were looking at a nest about 25 feet off the ground in a tree and I said what's that, a squirrels' nest? and they said no there's an owl in it. And I looked and unmistakably a hawk's head/beak arose from the nest. There were two adults, and after a bit one swooped away. S/he didn't have anything like a four foot wing span, it was smaller than that, I am pretty sure, but the head and beak silhouette looked just like what I am used to seeing in Lincoln's photos.

No camera with me, of course...

Karen,
Of course you didn't have a camera with you. It's always that way unless you don't make any moves at all without one including stepping into your backyard or even trying to go to Staples at the Mall. Remember the Staples Mallard Hen with her ducklings in the planter? BUT you do know where the nest is now.

Is it close enough to your house to revisit?

Donegal Browne