The Count is Even-Mama and Papa of Briarwood Have a Double Hatch as Do Rosie and Bobby of Washington Square, plus Personal Parrot Names In the Wild, the Central Park Poison in February and the Leucisistic Grackle

 Mama of the Briarwood Nest, sleeps with her head tucked while two very young hawks sleep beneath her.

 Jeff Kollbrunner's capture from earlier in the day.  Look carefully and you'll see two heads.

Mama and Papa now have a confirmed hatch of two eyasses.  Though they often hatch two, sometimes there is a third and as we can't see down in the nest bowl, there may yet be another little one popping up in the days to come.

As some of you may not be familiar with Mama and Papa the bonded pair in Queens who have been together for nearly two decades I asked Jeff Kollbrunner, one of their chief watchers for a recap of their history.

Donna,

This is our nineteenth season observing Mama and Papa. After many years of following them we discovered their first nest in 2004, they had two fledglings that season. Each year since we have been able to locate their nest and observe them raise their young. In 2005, their nest and eggs located on an apartment building were destroyed by humans. A new nest was quickly rebuilt at a second location on the same complex and they were able to produce another egg. Unfortunately, their saga did not end easily that season when at six weeks old their eyass was removed from the nest due to registered complaints to the proper authorities. Mama was captured and banded during this process while attempting to defend her nest and Papa injured his wing defending his nest. The eyass was taken to a rehabilitator outside of NY for conditioning and a foster training process. Requests were made to have the fledgling returned to the area once his foster training was completed, the rehabilitator did not comply. In 2006, their nest was destroyed once again by humans this time just prior to laying their eggs. Fortunately, they found an alternate location away from this building complex, they rebuilt another nest quickly and within one day of completing the new nest produced two eggs and raised two healthy fledglings. Since then life has become a bit more routine for Mama and Papa as they typically have two to three eggs and fledglings per season. In 2009 at about three weeks of age one of their two eyasses perished in the nest during a period of extreme weather. In 2010, two of the three eyasses perished both on a Monday one week apart. One of them was predated most likely by an owl, the second perished from frounce and the third fledgling survived.

Since 2004 Mama and Papa in eight nesting seasons have produced 17 eggs with 14 successful fledges. They generally produce two eggs and two fledglings each season, so it is possible that Mama and Papa may have produced up to 36 fledglings over the last eighteen nesting seasons. The NYCA Hawkcam made its debut in 2007 allowing us a window to observe this pair of Red-tailed Hawks bring new life into the world.

All the best, Jeff

Thanks Jeff!  

Though Jeff didn't mention it in his recap, during the episode in which Papa had an injured wing, though he could feebly fly, Papa couldn't readily hunt for himself.  Therefore when Mama got out of rehab, she hunted for Papa so he had enough to eat while his wing finished healing. 

They are also one of two pairs in NYC who have been observed "kissing".  (The other pair was Charlotte and Pale Male Jr. whose territory was the southern portion of Central Park.)

Also though most Red-tailed Hawk literature will tell you that Red-tailed Hawks do not team hunt, Jeff has observed the behavior in Mama and Papa.  As I observed it in the rural hawks, Mr. and Mrs. M in Wisconsin.

NOW FOR THE SECOND DOUBLE NEST OF THE DAY

 These two eyasses tussle quite a lot.  While Rosie attempted to tear open one of the stiffest rats I've ever seen, First eyass beaked Second eyass flat to the nest.  But Second got feisty.

Second then pulled herself up and gave First some very determined pecks in the head.  First backed off.

Then when Bobby arrived on the nest they both became all attention.

Next up More of the Saga Concerning Ginger Lima and the Central Park Precinct Rat Bait Box from the New York Times.

 palemale.com 

The red-tailed hawk Lima, photographed last November, was found dead on Feb. 26. She was once the mate of the much-followed raptor Pale Male.

By JAMES BARRON

Published: April 11, 2012

It had the makings of an avian mystery, albeit almost the opposite of that Hitchcockian one. Two red-tailed hawks were found dead, one in Central Park, one just outside. A third died 24 hours after being taken out of the park and sent to a wildlife rehabilitator because concerned park rangers could 

A sign warning of rat poison outside the Central Park police precinct.

Was it a whodunit? No, birders said on Wednesday, it was a whatdunit.

 MORE

                                                 Quicksilver knew it all the time.

The first study on parrots that proves that  they learn in the wild.  (Like that's a surprise but then there are those sticklers who insist on concrete data.) Alex the African Grey Parrot had already proved learning in captivity-- if just meeting a parrot who speaks in context hadn't convinced you. But the really nifty part of this study to my mind is that parrots in the study fledge off the nest with a personal "name".  And not only do they know their own "name"  but they also know their parent's names and hence in my opinion those of their siblings.  And can tell the others where they are going, for what reason, and if the other might like to go along.


Check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed9A4HPdXgQ&feature=relmfu

Tired of all those insensitive to wildlife humans?  Some good news about people being sensible about cooperating  during nesting season from  Robin of Illinois-

"The Citizens Potawatomi Nation's FireLake Golf Course are respecting nature. When a Canada goose made her nest on the course it seemed like a peaceful place to call home until the golf carts drove past. She began avidly protecting her nest and eggs. Chris Chesser, CPN diretor of the golf course found a solution. They put up a temporary barrier fence so there is a place for both! "

 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150684381673802.406806.80215398801&type=1

FOR TWO PREVIOUS SEASONS WHEN THE GRACKLE FLOCK PASSED THROUGH A LEUCISISTIC GRACKLE WAS WITH THEM.  THE FIRST YEAR I GOT HIS PICTURE.  LAST YEAR I FAILED.  THIS YEAR I GOT HIS PHOTO--BUT JUST....

                    Note the white on the Grackle's head.

Donegal  Browne

FLASH!! Mama and Papa of Briarwood Have a Hatch!!!!

Mama tends to her new eyass.  Papa is visiting more often and for longer periods.

Catch the action on the NYC Audubon cam--http://www.jknaturegallery.com/rth_nestcam.html

Donegal Browne  
Another post on the way, later today.

DEC NECROPSY RESULTS FOR FOUR MANHATTAN HAWKS

                    Intrepid, the Riverside Mom

DEC NECROPSY RESULTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR MANHATTAN RED-TAILED HAWKS

The four red tailed hawks found deceased in and around Manhattan late February and early March 2012, were submitted for examination to the State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Wildlife Health Unit.  Anticoagulant rodenticides were found as the primary cause of death in three of four birds.

DEC’s Wildlife Health Unit performs necropsies (animal autopsies) and diagnostic laboratory tests to identify the causes of sickness and death in New York State’s wild animals.  To improve public communication regarding these and other cases of interest, detailed reports and background information is now available on DEC’s website on the Wildlife Health Program webpage: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/81470.html.

        
            Thanks to Bobby Horvath and Katherine Herzog for the link.

               

    Today's regular post appears beneath this one.

Dongegal Browne

Washington Square Nest Has a Second Hatch and the Cornell Lab's Great Blue Heron Cam

          Courtesy of  http://www.livestream.com/nytnestcam

The first Washington Square Park eyass is begging while the second egg is pipping while likely first time mother Rosie looks on.  Later in the day the second egg hatched.

Note the paper plates lining the nest.  Most bowls of Red-tail nests are lined with bark and dry grass.  But when you think about it, Washington Square Park isn't the hugest green space in the world for bark choice, and paper plates are actually manufactured thin pieces of wood.  Hey, why struggle with stripping thin pieces of bark off trees when paper plates are ready made and handy for the taking?

Ah, the ever ingenious urban Red-tail!

                                                    Courtesy of  http://www.livestream.com/nytnestcam
 Note the curled talons so often seen on Red-tailed Hawk nests.  A protective habit to minimize the possibility of puncturing eggs or eyasses.  

The Cornell Lab Blue Heron Nest Cam
http://www.livestream.com/cornellherons?utm_source=website-channel-page&utm_medium=related
An added bonus of this cam is the wonderful fidelity plus it also includes sound.

One used to be able to tell the difference between the male and the female Great Blue Heron because the male was missing a toe-a permanent anomaly.  Currently it is even easier to tell who is who because the female lost her nuptial plumes to likely a Great Horned Owl, somebody at 4 in the morning has attacked her twice now at any rate, so the sitting bird can be identified right off by the temporary anomoly.  



The Fourth Egg Arrives-check out the contractions.
http://www.livestream.com/cornellherons/video?clipId=flv_dd5bcb5e-6a47-41b2-9d16-820973d67bb4&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

An owl attacks Mama Heron on the nest (She lost her nuptial plumes but still appears completely fine and monumentally angry!) 

No, the attacking owl was not after the eggs.  It turns out Owls aren't partial to eggs.  The theory is that the anti-egg bias of owls is likely due to the mess that occurs when a flat faced bird attempts egg eating.  The attacker was likely after the mother for a meal.  Not to worry this girl is one tough cookie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBGYPQKt3wA&NR=1&feature=endscreen

This link is actually for the younger set explaining brood patches in various species of birds.  I'm listing it for you take a look at the photo of the brood patch on a Chickadee. The whole anterior of the bird is bald when the exterior feathers are blown back.  I'd no idea that the clutch of a Chickadee was so large!  Check it out.
http://lauraerickson.com/Radio/SoundFiles/Current/2012-April/BroodPatch/publish_to_web/index.html

FLASH! Lincoln Karim's Day in Court

The charges against Lincoln Karim long time Pale Male photographer, hawkwatcher, and creator of www.palemale.com, regarding the possession of Ginger Lima's body have been dropped as of this morning, April 10, 2012.


More details as they come in.


D.B.

Mama and Papa Are Back on the Air Thanks to NYC Audubon, Pale Male, Swainson's Hawks, Rosie of Washington Square Park, and Rue Anemones

 Great News!  Just in from Jeff Kollbrunner the chief watcher of Mama and Papa---The NYC Audubon Hawkcam is up and running yet again--THANK YOU NYC AUDUBON!

   Mama sits the nest. The color is grand on this cam by the way. Note the evergreen twigs.  As far as I know, no one has proven one supposition over another as to why late in the nest building process Red-tailed Hawks festoon their nests with evergreen.  Hypotheses range from the twigs being used as as an insect repellent to their being a symbol that this nest has been chosen by the pair to be "the" nest site over an other possible secondary choices. 

 And here is the word from Jeff--

 

We have good news to report regarding the Briarwood Red-tail Hawk pair Mama and Papa. I was able to work with our friends at the facility where the nest is located and we relocated the NYCA Hawkcam. We have the Hawkcam positioned with an excellent view of the nest and this season we may have the potential to see eggs when Mama and Papa swap nesting duties. Mama started nesting on March 3rd, so on or about mid April we should see signs of a hatch(s). At this time we still do not know how many eggs are in this seasons nest. For people not familiar with the Hawkcam it provides a 24/7 live video feed of the parent hawks as they raise offspring at the nest throughout the nesting season. As in previous years at this location there is a strong flood light above the nest that provides ample lighting to observe nesting activities during the night.

The Hawkcam can be viewed at my website at the following link http://www.jknaturegallery.com/rth_nestcam.html the Hawkcam can be viewed on a computer and with smartphones.

All the best, Jeff

 P.S. If this year is similar to the past, the floodlights Jeff speaks about were not positioned on the hawks for our nefarious viewing pleasure but are part and parcel of the nest site.  The lights are on nightly year round to illuminate the building.  Therefore Mama and Papa knew they were there when they chose the site and obviously didn't find them a problem or wouldn't have used it. D.B.

   Rosie of Washington Square Park sleeps with her head tucked under her wing with her feathers ruffling continually.  The low temperature in Manhattan tonight is projected to be 46 F but the real kicker is the 38MPH gusts of wind.      HawkCam courtesy of  http://www.livestream.com/nytnestcam

     Pale Male with another twig for the nest-Photo courtesy of palemale.com

A Heads Up from Robin of Illinois- "It's a very cool map".

The National Audubon Society

"According to eBird’s weekly migration forecast Swainson’s Hawks are moving up the Central Flyway into Colorado and Kansas this week. To visualize their entire migration cycle, take a look at this occurrence map:"

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/occurrence-maps/swainsons-hawk

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE DELICATE, IDIOSYNCRATIC, AND BEAUTIFUL RUE ANEMONE, A WOODLAND WILDFLOWER, IS BLOOMING IN WISCONSIN! 

 Why do I say Rue Anemone are idiosyncratic?  Because there appears to be an almost endless variation in this species.  First off what appears to be petals are actually sepals.  Sepals ordinarily are the little multi-part "holder" for the petals.

And those sepals on any given plant of this species can have 6 sepals constituting 1 blossom and 10 on another of the same plant.  I've read that the most common color of Rue Anemone is white, but in this particular woods, most of the blossoms are a pale pink but when they open they are white. 

Some plants sepals are decidedly pointed.  Others are not like the specimen above.

More to come.

Donegal Browne