Pale Male's Earlier Poisoned 2012 Fledglings Return to Central Park!

       Photo courtesy of Henry Willson / Senior Staff Photographer, Columbia Spectator
  Cathy Horvath releases one of Pale Male and Zena's previously poisoned Fledglings in Central Park.

http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2012/10/15/young-hawks-return-wild-after-battle-rat-poison

I received an email this evening for Ellen Smithson, who recently relocated from Tucson, Arizona to NYC and who just happened to be enjoying Central Park when she stumbled upon the release of the two fledglings of Pale Male and Zena.  They who survived a bout of secondary rat poisoning under the care of Cathy and Bobby Horvath of WINORR, Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation.  

Ellen wrote in part-

I was taking a walk in the Ramble when I saw a long haired park ranger and a dark haired woman painting the toe nails of a large bird.  

I thought to myself, "Only in New York City".

There were others looking on during this phenomena so I too stopped to watch what might happen next.  

It was one of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen. Two hawks  flew from the hands of a person into the freedom of  air and sunshine.  A sun that flashed off the gold in their feathers.  

Two hawks which were poisoned by anonymous people who'd set out to kill rats and who had been brought back to life by people who cared enough to do all the tending it took to get to this spot on this day.  It was a blessing.

I was told that there wasn't any guarantee that these birds wouldn't be poisoned again and that, I found, a very tragic thought.  How can people be so thoughtless?  Is there no other way? 

I then got my first look at Pale Male later.  I was befriended by some  very nice hawk people and we saw him fly over the younger hawks. I guess he recognized them as he didn't chase them away, which I'm told he would have done if he didn't know them.  

I think I'm going to like New York City after all. 

 Many thanks Ellen, and if you can be intrigued by people painting nail polish on a hawk's talons and wait around for the second act.  I think you definitely have the stuff to "like" the Big Apple.  Keep in touch!

Opera Star the third fledgling of this year's nest on 927 Fifth Avenue is believed to have succumbed to secondary rat poisoning,  as likely, did his mother, Zena.

A few of the  known lost to secondary rat poison are Ginger Lima, Pale Male's mate before Zena,   Hawkeye, mate of Rose, at the Fordham nest, Athena, mate of Atlas of the Triborough nest, and Intrepid, the beautiful Riverside Park Mom, who had lost three eyasses still in their natal feathers on the nest, due to secondary rat poisoning in a previous season. 

Though Pale Male's fledglings were poisoned while in or around Central Park by eating already poisoned rats, they were also released back to the area.  There are any number of reasons for doing this which include their familiarity with their natal territory and the fact that when it comes down to it, secondary poisoning is a problem all over the country. 

 Though Central Park has reputedly done what they can to remove poison, there are buildings which face the park which undoubtedly have not.

 Nowhere is truly safe for them. 

BESIDES...another reason why Central Park would be best, at least in my opinion,  is as these birds were so young when they were poisoned they had not had the time to be trained thoroughly by their super hunter father Pale Male in his many hunting techniques.  The ways of hunting are not innate for Red-tailed hawks.  They must be apprenticed to hunting by their parents.  The better the training  the more chance they have of surviving their first year, when a very high percentage of  young Red-tailed hawks die.

I'm hoping that Pale Male will pick up where he left off  as hunting mentor.  I realize that in young Red-tailed fathers the training of their offspring may come from hormonal urges.  A hormonal level that after six months Pale Male may not feel.  But just perhaps Pale in his many seasons of training young hawks, has the cognizance to know what they need and will do it because he knows it needs doing not just because his hormones tell him so. 

Donegal Browne

Contact the New Head of NYC Parks Department, Bomber the Hummingbird, Quicksilver, Pyewacket, and the Spaghetti

Why is there a photograph of a hummingbird feeder on a cold rainy day?  Look up.  There you will see Bomber.  Bomber is a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird who has territorialized my two Hummingbird feeders. 

Ordinarily she sits high in the Maple and comes blazing down on any other Hummer who attempts to access "her" feeders.  

Today is very rainy and cold so Bomber has chosen the better part of valor and decided that sitting under the eave above the little feeder waiting to go after her fellow Ruby-throats at the bigger feeder has charms the tree hasn't.

Like a roof for instance.

Why is she doing this?  It appears to be what hummingbirds do.  Breeding season is over and migration hasn't started.  She isn't interesting in watching TV so there we are.

Preservation of personal food supply?

 Bomber has taken off like a heat seeking missile, chasing another Hummer (too fast for me to catch with the camera even if I hadn't been dishing out some spaghetti for myself)  while Silver the African Grey looks on with great interest.

Okay I thought he was looking on with great interest and perhaps he was while I was looking at him, but upon sitting my plate on the table I see he's removed a 2 inch piece of carved wood from the front of the chair.  Chair is removed, the dishwasher dragged over to the door with a parrot perch on top and the parrot deposited on it.  

"Behave yourself." 

"Watch the Hummingbirds try to intimidate each other."

Silver laughs and attempts to look charming instead of conniving.

Ah, Bomber is back in position waiting for the next victim.  She's wetter than before but I assume she's just gotten an ego boost and doesn't much care.

Wait a minute.   Wet birds preen.  She isn't and I realize I've never seen a Hummingbird preen.  They must, mustn't they?  I mean they do have feathers that have to be cared for.  But with that beak...  I realize I need a fork and head for the silverware drawer. 

When I turn back around...

 Guess who is eating my spaghetti?

What?  This wasn't for me?  

(There is a reason the tablecloth is covered with plastic.)

In the meantime...

Pyewacket the Cat, using whatever kitty radar she has that allows her to appear in a twinkling when the parrot is eating people food and there may be stray snacks dropping to the floor, has arrived.

Bomber is now staring fixedly at the joint between the house and the eave.  Insects?  I forgot to get a fork.  I go back to the drawer.

Now and again Bomber appears to look down and watch Silver eating.

Silver has turned round my way for some reason.

What did I come over here to get?

Bomber has turned round toward the yard.  There must be more chasing fodder in sight.  I wait to try and catch the moment.

There is a soft thump behind me.

What is it with everybody today? 

By the way Pye isn't after the parrot, she too is after the spaghetti.

I give her a look.  She knows she isn't supposed to be on the table.

"No really, I just wanted to watch the hummingbirds too.  I'm on my way to the patio door to look out.  It's a shortcut.  Yeah, that's it."

"But wait, it wouldn't be polite for me to be on a surface with a fellow 'cat' and not touch noses.  Besides what about that spaghetti.  Done yet, bird?"

Silver discovered early on that if Pyewacket approached him, and if he yowled loudly like a cat in her face that she became confused and left.  Pye then must have decided that though he didn't look like a cat or smell like a cat, he sounded like a cat and an attempt at a nose touch was only polite in certain circumstances. 

(Did you ever notice that if one cat is on the bed and another jumps on, that the second will often touch noses with the first?  Some sort of olfactory greeting?"

PART 2 OF PYEWACKET, QUICKSILVER, HUMMINGBIRDS,  AND SPAGHETTI IN THE NEXT POST.

A heads up from Sally of Kentucky, who's been monitoring the rat poison situation in NYC,  about a poster calling for those concerned to take action about the many deaths of our urban Red-tails of late.  This particular poster was distributed with specific  concern for Washington Square Park where rat poison has not been laid for some time.  Washington Square Park is the home of Bobby and Rosie  Red-tail and the site of their nest which has the New York Times Hawk Cam focused on it.. 

 (No we cannot be sure that Bobby and Rosie will absolutely be poisoned but if second generation rat poisons are used in the park, and as these two hawks do eat rats nearly every day, the possibility is high.)
 The dead hawk in the illustration is Ginger Lima, a previous mate of Pale Male's who's necropsy revealed she been killed by secondary poisoning from eating a tainted rat.

Do not miss Emily Frost's super piece on the hawk poisonings at DNAinfo-- 

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120921/upper-west-side/pale-males-mate-zena-presumed-dead

Just in from Robin of Illinois about a lucky accident prone Red-tail and a lucky driver, well... we'd think he was anyway--  Red-tail bounces off windshield, lands in driver's  lap...

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/hawk-car-connecticut-205632975.html?_esi=1

Donegal Browne

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.

Another Red-tailed Hawk Found Dead in Central Park and Good-bye to the Norfolk Botanical Eagles

 

Photo courtesy of palemale.com

 Zena, Pale Male's new mate, flies with dinner.  Let's hope she isn't partial to NYC rats.  

We do not know what killed Pale Male's mate Ginger Lima, nor do we know what happened to the most recent Red-tail found dead in the south end of Central Park on Sunday, but as I'm told both were found unblemished the suspicion of death by poison rackets up a notch.  Yes perhaps there might have been totally different causes of death that made both the hawks drop dead but it does raise more suspicion about poison.

Though we often put singular blame on New York City's parks for using rat poison, and the ensuing deaths of many other creatures which consume rats or carrion, keep in mind that many city buildings also place rat bait as well and some of those poisoned rats kill other creatures as well, including raptors.  They don't just hunt in the parks.  I've seen them take prey off streets with no green space in sight..

Whether the latest hawk deaths were by poison or not, past deaths have been  and we know rats are actually controlled by careful methodical sanitation not the supposed quick fix of poison.

New York City would go a long way in the  reduction of secondary poisoning, not just of Red-tailed Hawks but also beloved pets and sometimes even children by passing laws which require garbage to be put out on the street for pick up in rat proof containers.

Does your building lay rat bait? Find out. Talk to your neighbors about  better alternatives.  Or in the phrase used by many many different people over many many years who try to change entrenched but no-brainer unenlightened behavior-

 Educate, Agitate, Organize!



From the New York Times City Room Blogs


March 5, 2012, 4:54 pm

Red-Tailed Hawk Found Dead in Central Park

By JAMES BARRON

A red-tailed hawk was found dead in Central Park on Sunday, a week after the body of Lima — a companion of the much-watched red-tail Pale Male — was discovered under a tree.

A parks department spokeswoman said the hawk found Sunday was at the south end of the park, near Columbus Circle. It was not immediately clear whether it was a male or a female. Hawk-watchers say there had been a nest outside the park, not far from where the dead hawk was retrieved by Central Park Conservancy staff members, but it was not clear whether the dead hawk was one of the pair from that nest.

Read More... 

   From Sally of Kentucky, regarding the plight of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens Eagles--

What next, are they going to cut trees, or otherwise prevent eagles from nesting in the area? Are they going to poison them? Shoot or trap them? what about the hundreds of shorebirds in  the area and geese? Very sad...

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/47037033923/

 

Julie Bonner

SAD NEWS for all fans:
Today I received a short letter from Senator Mark Warner, responding to my email to him outlining my fears for the Eagle nest at NBG. On my behalf he must have written to Norfolk Airport because he enclosed a copy of a letter dated Feb 26, 2012, which they sent back to him regarding my complaints. The letter does NOT look good for the eagles!! Sr. Warner also enclosed a copy of a letter dated Feb 3, 2012, that was signed by US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Dept of Agriculture, and VGDIF and addressed to The City Mgr of Norfolk (Marcus D. Jones). This letter is 3 pages long and I have not read its entirety yet - but here is what page.3 says :

"We strongly recommend that the City of Norfolk move forward by requesting the appropriate permit to enable the removal of the bald eagles nests at NBG, as outlined in the Airport's Wildlife Hazard Management Plan and requested the Airport in correspondence to the Garden in Nov 2011. The continued presence of the nests there is a liability and poses a significant risk to public safety and the safety of the eagles. Please note that the public safety threat goes beyond those on the aircraft to people living and working in the vicinity of the airport."

"A first step in this process is the application by the City (as landowner) to the USFWS for a permit that allows for the removal of the nest. To expedite this process, a copy of the application is enclosed for your use." 
"The DGIF also has a role in authorizing the nest removal, since the bald eagle is currently designated as a state threatened species. Ms. Becky Gwynn, regional Assistant Bureau Director for DGIF, will coordinate with your office as in that regard."

"We recognize that there are other attractants for eagles around the Airport, and are working with the operations staff there to develop a more comprehensive eagle management plan to discourage eagles from nesting on properties adjacent to the Airport. We also appreciate the educational opportunity that the EagleCam has provided to the public for so many years and are certainly interested in working with the City or other partners to provide similar opportunities at another, more safe location".

"If you have any questions or need more information, please feel to contact Scott Barras, USDA-Ws, at (804) 739-7739 or via email at scott.c.barras@aphis.usda.gov or Becky Gwynn at (804) 829-6720 or via email at becky.gwynn@dgif.virginia.gov

WHAT IS GOING ON?  DIDN'T WE WORK OUR HARDEST TO BRING THESE BIRDS BACK FROM THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION NOT SO VERY LONG AGO?  

Donegal Browne

Pale Male, Ginger Lima, Bobby and the New Girl of Washington Square Park, Violet in Rehab, Newville the Rural Hawk, and What Is That Lump in the Tree?

Photo courtesy of www.palemale.com/

And there's the sweet face that launched thousands of news stories, the original urban hawk himself, Pale Male.

As always Pale Male looks in fine fettle and ready to begin yet another breeding year. After his very fruitful season with Ginger Lima last seasin, there is every reason to believe that this year will be fertile as well.

"And once again the hawkwatchers will gather to encourage the next generation."

Photo courtesy of www.palemale.com/

Speaking of Ginger Lima, could her crop be any fuller? She's consuming all those calories in preparation for creating the eggs that will, if all goes well, be laid yet again on the nest secured by pigeon spikes on the cornice at 927 Fifth Avenue.

Both Ginger Lima and the New Girl at Washington Square Park remind me ever so much of Isolde, formel of long standing, of the nest behind St. Andrew's elbow at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. See the almond shaped eyes, the mantle of head color that comes down onto her breast, thick defined belly band and a hawk that leans towards the dark end of the Red-tail coloration spectrum as well.

Photo courtesy of http://rogerpaw.blogspot.com/
I wondered if it weren't about time for Bobby to show Washington Square Park's New Girl the ledge nest.

Sure enough, Washington Square Hawkwatcher Deb Rosen, who has a view from a window over the park, sent a note, and the 28th was the big day.

Deb said-- Bobby went up on the nest, and looked over the edge. He waited. His new mate flew up. It looked like she did something with the sticks and went on and off the nest a number of times during the day. D. Rosen

Of course male Red-tails always show their mate an alternate nest site just in case the formel takes umbrage with the one that was used before. It would be a disappointment if she chose the alternate as it might not be able to host a HawkCam. Though as housekeeping took place Bobby's new mate must be at least considering it.

Besides let's face it, there aren't that many top notch nesting spots around Washington Square Park so keep your fingers crossed.

A Violet update from the Horvath's WINORR Facebook page--
WINORR- Wildlife In Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation wrote: "The good leg shows early stages of bumblefoot which we aren't suprised by. We are hopeful it responds well with treatment and rest ."

Photo Donegal Browne
This is Newville the Red-tailed hawk. I think Newville is a tiercel. I like Newville he lets me stand across the street from him without immediately taking off. By the way, it looks dark but it's only a little after noon.

Well Newville, who had been nicely ignoring me, has now focused on me so I suspect he'll be off the wire and heading somewhere else very soon.

He's up but does do a bit of a flyover to take a good look at me.

Curiosity satisfied he banks.

He heads for the treeline.

And just like Pale Male does when flying along Fifth Avenue, Newville goes for the treeline and flies through it. Either most Red-tail parents teach their offspring this tactic, or if you're a Red-tail its just so obvious you do it, or it is one of the few wired in behaviors.

Between the branches.

Into the next tree.

And the next. Normally I'd have cut the sequence already because we all know Newville is going to keep going until I loose sight of him but when looking at the photos I discovered something I'd not noticed in the field.

Go to the left of the photograph, the left tree, and the right big branch which has broken at some point and a secondary branch has taken over and is pointing up.

Today's mystery is-- what is that lump in the tree?


Here's a crop of the next photo in the sequence. Newville right and what appears to be an animal lump on the left.
Double click on the photo and you'll get an enlargement.

What do you think it is?

And yet another view with Newville a little closer. Of course Newville knows what the lump is but he isn't talking. Very boring of him.

Anyone have a suggestion as to the lumps identity?

Then Newville is past the mystery lump and going into a copse of trees that is thicker than the previous one deep treeline. He goes deeper and deeper. Eventually I see him fly into a group of trees but I don't see him fly any further.

Look near the top of the photo, center. Is that Newville perched in that tree?

Donegal Browne

John Blakeman on the Fordham Fab Four, and Pale Male Stuffs them Full

Photo courtesy of palemale.com
Pale Male nabs a large meaty pigeon at the Metropolitan Museum.

Photo courtesy of palemale.com
And Pale Male's hunting skill translates into extremely full crops for his young.

Photo by Richard Fleisher
REGARDING THE FORDHAM FAB FOUR FROM RED-TAIL EXPERT JOHN BLAKEMAN-

Donna,

I note with peculiar interest the Fordham Four. I've never encountered a Red-tail nest with 4 eyasses anywhere in the Midwest or East. These are sometimes reported in the West, where ample ground squirrel prey populations can provide the nutrition needed to produce 4 fertile eggs and to feed 4 eyasses to fledging.

Clearly, the Fordham Four indicate the very large prey populations in NYC, probably a combination of rats and pigeons. Rats alone may be the factor.

The colonization of urban areas by Red-tailed Hawks is not complete, I believe. As more and more of these hawks learn to uniquely exploit urban rat and pigeon populations hawk population densities will continue to elevate.

And no one, to my knowledge, is conducting a scintilla of proper field biology studies on any of this. It's still only street theater -- of the highest quality, but in the utter absence of any raptor science.

If I took an hour or two, I could lay out probably several dozen questions about all of this that need detailed study, particularly because urban RTH behaviors contrast so greatly with those in rural areas. For example, rural red-tails simply spend no time trying to pursue pigeons, even though many barns and farming operations have ample populations. Rural pigeons are simply too fast and alert to be captured by red-tails. Different story -- yet untold in proper detail -- in urban areas.

Still, I'm astounded at the Fordham Four. Until now, I would have predicted 3 as the effective upper limit of RTH broods in NYC. These urban hawks have proved me wrong once again, based upon what I know of the rural populations.

--John Blakeman

I too was astounded by Rose and Vince's ability to raise four eyasses in the first place particularly without any evident change in their behavior noted by observers.

For those unfamiliar with the Fordham nest, only those birds on the edge of ledge can be seen from the ground. Therefore all four of the eyasses would have to have stood on the edge at the same time in order to get a true count. It wasn't until Rich Fleisher was able to get a roof view from another building that the first foursome of eyasses in NYC hawkwatcher memory came to light.

I've not seen nor heard tell of four eyasses of near fledge age surviving in Wisconsin where one or two seems to consist a clutch. Whereas three had seemed to be the New York City limit previously.

I"d read in the literature that some pairs were observed in Alaska with five eyasses. It did not however mention what the main food source prey was for those particular nests.

I received a call from Hawk Bench fixture Stella Hamilton about what prey was going into Pale Male and Ginger Lima's nest.

Stella had promised herself that if Pale Male's nest ever had babies in it again, that she'd buy herself a birding scope. He did so she did. The Stella Scope is now frequently at the Hawk Bench set low on its tripod so even kids can get a good look.

Therefore using the Stella Scope, Ms. Hamilton has been keeping a close watch on what prey is being brought to the nest. And according to Stella the percentage of pigeon and other bird meals have far out stripped that of mammal, including the rats that make us bite our nails, as they might be poisoned.

Which is extremely good news. Even so keep your fingers crossed that a bad rat doesn't go up to the nest some day.

Happy Hawking!

Donegal Browne

Riverside Fledges, Pale Male and Ginger Lima Update, First NYC Peregrine Fledge of the Year and Is There Really Another Seed Eating Robin?

Photo courtesy of palemale.com The classic new fledgling hawk stare at a human. There is no fear in their eyes and they look directly into your camera lens looking at your eye looking at them, with just a hint of Go Ahead, Try it in their expression. It is a priceless moment in which you remember all the reasons that you watch hawks and why they are so important to the urban landscape. It gives delight of the kind that gives a shiver up your back and makes the hair on your arms stand on end.

BOTH RIVERSIDE EYASSES ARE NOW FLEDGLINGS--Out in the world at large, or at least the world of Riverside Park, being fed and trained by their mother. Most nests with two eyasses would have the benefit of a parent each to teach hunting techniques and to bring "carry out" meals. But as most of you will remember, Riverside Dad died of rat poison, when these two were only a few days old. Riverside Hawk Watchers, wildlife rehabber Bobby Horvath, and the NYC Parks Department came through and saved these two from likely starvation by supplementing Riverside Mom's hunting with handily placed fresh frozen rats and quail.

Have you written a note to Adrien Benepe, Commissioner of NYC Parks asking that all poison be removed from Red-tailed territories from February through July or later if there is a late hatch? If not or you are ready to shoot off a second missive as nothing has happened yet, get going!

For particulars on the rat poison vs Red-tail Emergency in NYC plus the hawks of name who have died due to this debacle, click the link below!

http://palemaleirregulars.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-red-tailed-hawks-of-nyc-any-meal.html

And for those who know about all the deaths, but have just been slothful or horrendously busy find the email link and the U.S. Mail address below.

Do it NOW, or do it AGAIN! There are as of this moment, inexperienced Red-tail youngsters bumbling around NYC parks killing rocks and sticks for practice and have no idea why that rat might be acting funny and should NOT be eaten!

Lives are in the balance.

You can fill out the on-line form, which limits you to 150-words:
http://www.nycgovparks.org/contact_us/html/contact.html

Or get out those writing implements out, computer or good ole handwriting on stationary and get to it!

Honorable Adrian Benepe
Commissioner or Parks and Recreatio
The Arsenal
Central Park
830 Fifth Avenue
NY, NY 10065

Photo courtesy of palemale.com
And the second fledgling practicing more branching and staying up out of harms way above the swirl of humans and dogs.

Photo courtesy of palemale.com
And who should be flying in with a pigeon for her fledglings but the hardest working hawk Mom in New York City. This bird deserves such praise for her dedication to her young. Though loosing her pair bonded mate, a very serious thing for a hawk at any time, let alone so soon after a hatch- she carried on through her own loss and has made sure Riverside Dad's genes will go out into the world for one last time.

She did and is doing her part, remember to do yours so it will never happen again.

Photo courtesy of palemale.com

And here we are back in Central Park at 927 Fifth Avenue. You could be sitting on the Hawk Bench and have this view, though it would be a bit smaller with the naked eye.

Speaking of genes, once again today I was struck by the similarity in the physicality of Isolde of the Cathedral Nest and Ginger Lima. Is G.L. a former resident of that uptown nest?

We'll likely never know without a DNA study, but as Isolde and Norman have been periodically hatching urban savvy young hawks uptown, it is possible.

Photo courtesy of palemale.com
Ginger Lima sets to work, methodically feeding the newest set of urban eyasses. The near miracle hawk young of 927 Fifth Avenue. Pale Male has done it again with Ginger Lima's help!

AND from pro photographer and birder Francois Portmann--
Hey Donna,

First peregrine fledges of 2011 in Manhattan
At 55 water street.

Francois

There are pictures but Francois and I have had a bit of a data transfer problem this evening so the photos will be coming soon!

Photo by Karen Anne Kolling
REGARDING SEED EATING ROBINS FROM KAREN ANNE KOLLING OF THE GONZO DECK IN RI.

I can't say with certainty that this is a seed-eating robin, because the supermarket seed mix is called Fruit and Berry, but I have never seen anything but sunflower seeds and other seeds in it.

I've also seen robins make off with shelled peanuts. The one time one tried to eat one on the deck, he was not making progress before he flew off with it.

Meanwhile, a fledgling sparrow did the feed me number to an adult grackle, yikes. The grackle ignored him and the fledgling hopped off to an actual sparrow parent. Normally on the deck the only bird contention is the smaller ones make way for the larger ones, but a year or two ago I did see a grackle flip over a little sparrow who was next to him and the grackle was obviously going to go for his abdomen so I went out there howling like a banshee and they both took off. I hope the grackle's talons had not caused any puncture wounds, otherwise the sparrow looked okay.

Thanks or the new information Karen. I suppose the berries would be dried up and perhaps seed-like? Could you check the ingredients on the bag and see for sure there are no berries in it?

You no doubt saved sparrow. I don't know how sharp a Grackle's toenails are but their beaks are very sharp. I have seen them ambush fledgling sparrows in Central Park and eat them.

Donegal Browne

P.S. I'm still looking into Pale Male's foot.

And Then There Are TWO! Pale Male's Nest and The Divines

Photograph courtesy of palemale.com

The common wisdom is that hawks are not social animals and therefore show little companionability or what we might call affection towards each other. Not so, at least in this hawk family.

Photograph courtesy of palemale.com
Pale Male arrives with yet more food, another pigeon, for Ginger Lima and his rapidly growing family. He hunts endlessly and brings back portion after portion of prey.

Pale Male takes a momentary breather and the parents then stare down at the eyasses.

If you haven't done so already today, hit the palemale.com link. Lincoln Karim, incredible photographer everyday, is particularly inspired in this days photographs . Plus when you get to the home page, scroll down past the large photo to the first video.

There are a couple of very interesting bits of behavior. One of which I've never seen before. In the first few seconds of the video, Ginger Lima appears to push one of the eyasses back from the edge of the nest with her foot. Yes, her very heavily taloned foot without hurting the little guy one bit. But he does get the message and stays back when she walks the edge of the nest in that direction.

Secondly later in the video, though you can see portions of, and positions of both of the known eyasses, Ginger puts her head down deeper into the nest. Now she may be doing a little clean up of the bowl down there, but it is also possible that she may be giving a third eyass a bite of food.

Keep your eyes open and stay tuned.

Next, a pair of nesting Peregrines double team a young Red-tail, now under medical care- in from Robin of Illinois--

Nesting Falcons drive Red-tail into pavement.

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo/Statler-falcons-injure-hawk

Photograph courtesy of Rob Schmunk, bloomingdalevillage.blogspot.com/

ON TO THE CATHEDRAL NEST OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE

Bluejays have been harassing the formel, Isolde. She has tried multiple perches and the Jays just won't give it up. According to Rob Schmunk one the chief watchers of this nest, one of the Divine eyasses has been keeping an eye on the whole process. No doubt storing away the visuals for later reference when the same might be happening to her.

Photograph courtesy of Rob Schmunk, bloomingdalevillage.blogspot.com/

Big wing stretch! Before long there will be a whole lot of flapping and hopping going on at this nest.

From raptor watcher Jackie Dover, vocalizations on an eagle’s nest plus tandem feeding by both parents--

Hornby Eagles

"This 20-min video shows something that longtime viewers have never seen before on the Hornby nest - both Mom and Dad feeding the eaglets. Just after 4 PM, Mom brought in a HUGE fish head, and Dad brought a smaller one...."

(Mom comes in at 3 minutes 30 sec., and Dad, at 9 minutes 25 seconds. I like the vocalizations at that point.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd5TP43U4p0

Donegal Browne

Three Eyasses at Fordham! Pale Male and Ginger Lima Present the Top of a White Head, Plus Violet and Pip Admire the View

Photograph by Richard Fleisher

Rose does it again! With the help of her latest mate, Vince, of course. Hawkeye her mate of many years was killed by secondary poisoning from eating a rat that had ingested rat poison.

U P D A T E-a main watcher of the Fordham nest, Rich Fleisher sends in the latest-

Hi,

Three eyases on the Fordham nest. When I saw them on Tuesday they were moving around, quite active. I am attaching one photo. Others on my flickr site.

Rich

http://www.flickr.com/photos/profman_wildlife_photos/

Photo courtesy of palemale.com

Pale Male is back to wearing his proud-alert-always-hunting-father-hawk-expression, as opposed to having the concerned-worried expression he has worn for the last six years as he and Lola waited day after day, the season wearing on, waiting for a hatch that never happened. (In case you missed the FLASH and photo of the top of the eyasse's head earlier, remember to scroll down to the next post down after this one.)

Loyal hawk watcher and long time activist against rat poison Katherine Herzog reports from her view at The Bench.-

Pale seems to be bringing everything and anything to the nest....pigeons, rats, mice, squirrels....also smaller birds, starlings and such.

Photograph courtesy of palemale.com
Ginger Lima puts herself between the full hot sun and her eyasses so they do not over heat. Though she, with her very dark heat collecting plumage, has to pant to disperse the heat collected by her body while she is doing it. For a better view, double click the photo.

Also from Katherine concerning the new Mom--

The female, at least during my vigils, has not gotten off the nest once since the hatching/s....she stretches her legs, her wings, stands over them...mantling them and feeds them.

When they're sleeping...she likes to catch flies and other insects on the fly. A bit of protein and some diversion.

When Pale makes a visit with food or to check in with her.....she practically shoves him off the nest! She doesn't need any help from him!
A very different personality from Lola....who I remember liked to take a short break.

This female is eating very little from what I've observed. She'll pick a small amount for herself but only after she's feed the kid/s.

According to report, often late in the day, Pale Male is stashing food for Ginger in off nest locations. He knows she needs a break even if she doesn't. Pale Male is also a Dad that very much enjoys tending his offspring. So much so that Lola would, on occasions have to bump him a bit to get him to vacate the bowl so she could get back to "her job".

And what are Violet and Pip doing this night? Pip is attempting to sit up and sleep like a big bird. And Violet is letting him use her for a prop.


Still photo taken from the NYU Hawk Cam
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/answers-about-pip-and-violet/

Pip leans against Violet while she does a little preening on his head.

And a little more.

He keels but then struggles his way back up.

Every young creature has the urge to be more like the adults and Pip sits up, leans next to mom, and looks at the park view.

But as sleep sets in he begins to slide down.

And eventually that heavy over sized head begins to flop forward. When last I looked he was sleeping face down, flat as a pancake. These growing up things take time.

Donegal Browne