For the past two days, we decided to try something new. Longtime hawkwatcher Stella Hamilton, and my daughter also a long time hawkwatcher as she started when she was ten or so and is now in college, Samantha Browne-Walters have been casing Central Park for Pale Male, Octavia, Fledge 1, Fledge 2, and the above hard case, Third who does not want to leave the nest. When Stella or Sam catch one of the hawks in the act they text me an update and I immediately post it on the blog from my computer. Therefore readers can get the latest in real time.
We're still ironing out the glitches for update photos in real time so this evening I'm posting the pix which went with the earlier updates today of the on the spot sightings.
Here we go!
2:31 PM Above, still on the nest is, I'm calling him Third, the eyass who just doesn't want to take the leap. You'll note as usual with a hard case he is spending quite a bit of time alone. Pale Male and Octavia are out hunting and looking after Fledge 1 and Fledge 2 who need more looking after as they are out in the world. Third is safe, and he is fed, visited, and checked on but it is likely pretty lonely up there after the previous crowd before everyone left.
But as we will see, Pale Male has decided it is time that Third left the nest....so what does Pale Male do?
Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters2:39 PM He soars a giant circle around the Model Boat Pond and above the buildings on Fifth Avenue.
Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
2:40PM Then Octavia gives it a try by soaring by.
2:45PM Then here comes Pale Male again.
2:49PM Nope. Not going to look...
Full wide display, see its fun. And isn't there a little something in Pale Male's beak?
Wait! Is that a MOUSE in Dad's beak?
2:50PM Okay I'll flap. See I'm making an effort.
Still flapping!
Where'd he GO!
2:52PM He better not be eating it.
Hey, somebody could bring one of those up to me. I could eat a duck.
Fine. I'll preen.
What now?
Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
3:13PM What is that?
Hmmm.
I'm eating it.
Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
3:22PM Pale Male on another circuit flies between Woody and Shipshape.
Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
Third sees Pale Male
Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
And Third starts to flap. There may well be a sympathetic mimicry for wing flapping once eyasses reach a certain maturity. And Pale Male being an experienced parent is well aware of it. Part of his reason for making periodic circuits in full view of Third, perhaps?
I'm still working on extracting Stella's photo from my phone so look forward to Fledge 2 with her rat next post.
To see Sam's original updates from earlier today scroll down and hit older posts to get to the next page.
Happy Hawking!
Donegal Browne
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