Pale Male Attempts to Tempt Third (the unfledged eyass) Off the Nest

Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters

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.

2:33PM  Third decides to do a little preening.

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-Walters
2:39 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.

 Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
2:45PM  Then here comes Pale Male again.

 Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters

 Third takes some interest.

 Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
2:49PM  Nope.  Not going to look...

  Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
Full wide display, see its fun.  And isn't  there a little something in Pale Male's beak?

  Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
Wait!  Is that a MOUSE in Dad's beak?

  Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
2:50PM  Okay I'll flap.  See I'm making an effort.

    Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters                                       
                                           Still flapping!

Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
Where'd he GO!

Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
2:52PM  He better not be eating it.

   Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters

Hey, somebody could bring one of those up to me.  I could eat a duck.

    Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters

  Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
Fine.  I'll preen.

 Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
What now? 

 Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
 3:13PM  What is that? 

  Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
Hmmm.

  Photo by Samantha Browne-Walters
    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

 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
 

Quicksilver the African Parrot and the Shut Cabinet...Repeatedly, Grackles Walk on Pond Scum, and the Robin Nest Under the Dam

It all started when I heard the  "clack" of something falling and realized I'd no idea where Silver was.  The clack sounded like it came from the laundry room.  I looked... no parrot.  Could have sworn it was from in here.

Thunk!  Hmmm.  I opened the cupboard door...

                       Honey, how did you get in there?  

 I'm sorry Silver.  Did I shut you in the cupboard? I'm sorry, Sweetie!

I didn't remember shutting the cupboard.   Didn't remember it at all.  Besides wouldn't I have seen him if I did?

Because of his expression I did not offer my hand to help him out.  Not with that look on his face. 

As I was leaving the room I heard him fly out.  Good.

                          And when I visited again...

But later the cabinet is closed again. I did not shut the cabinet.

Tink...tink!

Silver?

Tinka tinka tink!

I open the cupboard...a parrot head pops out.

He is shutting himself in the cabinet.  

Why is he doing that?

How is he doing it?  

And being a parrot he isn't about to do it while I'm looking.

May have to resort to a trail cam....

Later I go out to look at the Mill Race as I've heard they are allowing it to refill as the work on the banks has been completed.  

I walk down to the dam.

While the water was so low and slow moving, it had gotten rather stagnant and is full of algae and other gunk.

 And all of it seems to have now floated up to the dam and stopped, with the water flowing over the dam but the gunk just laying there.  

What is that bird doing out there?

The Grackle must be hunting something?  Or foraging for something?  That stick doesn't appear to be floating.  It's stuck in the gunk. 

 And another Grackle.... What's he looking at?

He flies back to another twig and looks intently at something.

 He flies to yet another perch and stares intently.

Another perch.

Into he air...

Further...

Did it go over the dam?

Got it!  Suddenly there is something red in his beak.

Another Grackle is further out walking on floating twigs.  All goes well for awhile.

A new twig he's stepping on sinks and he starts to sink himself but his wings come up and he's into the air.

What's that under the walkway on the metal plate?  A nest?

 Yes, a nest!

 Indeed a nest of Robin chicks.

You never know what you will see when you take a walk and take the time to actually look.

Donegal Browne

A NEW Francois Portmann Thompkins Nest Video, and THREE at the Cathedral Nest!

Photo by Francois Portmann   http://fotoportmann.com/birds/

The Thompkins Square formel shelters her three eyasses from the sun.  She appears to have the knack for motherhood, or is an experienced Mom.

Dad Red-tails on the other hand, upon seeing the eggs brooded over time are  driven into a hunting frenzy by their hormones and, at least it appears, must learn other fathering skills by watching over time.   And pairs appear to work out their own double parenting system.   Tristan always did the last feeding of the day while Isolde took a break, often  atop a building open to the sky.  

Pale Male on the other hand seldom if ever feeds, but is quite partial to sitting on eggs and eyasses for as long as his mate will let him.  He also fully prepares the prey to be eaten before presenting it. 

On the other hand, the formel of the previous Southern Central Park pair , Charlotte, liked to prepare her own prey.  She also refused stiff prey. Pale Male Jr.  once appeared on the nest with a rather stiff pigeon.  Instead of taking it and flying off to eat it.  Charlotte looked utterly disgusted and flew off to hunt for herself.  Junior stood there with the prey watching her go, shoulders slumped.

 You'll note in Francois Portman's truly delightful new video of the Thompkins Square Park pair coming up further down the page, that stiff prey are perfectly acceptable to everyone on that nest.

Francois said...
 Here is a new video from the nestCam:
First, the tircel (at left) tries his feeding skills, 
then the matriarch takes over and demonstrate how it's done!
enjoy
francois
(Watch the formel's expression and body language as the Tiercel attempts to feed.  DB.)
http://youtu.be/anB_gdsA8AQ

 photo courtesy of Rob Schmunk
And indeed, there are the usual three eyasses for the Divines, Isolde and Norman, after all! 
Check it out.   
Isolde still takes her evening break but it doesn't appear that Norman feeds the eyasses during it. 
 Not surprising actually.
 Norman's full name is Stormin Norman as he still focuses and has from the beginning on firm territorial boundaries and the harrassing of interlopers.
 Go!
http://morningsidehawks.blogspot.com/

 Happy Hawking!
Donegal Browne

Francois Portmann Catches a Feeding at Sheep Meadow! Plus the Decorah Eagle Mom and Eaglets And Quicksilver the African Grey Parrot

Photograph by Francois Portmann  http://www.fotoportmann.com/birds

Fabulous pro photographer Francois Portmann caught a feeding at Sheep Meadow nest in Central Park on Tuesday.

Hawkwatchers report that all is going well for these younger parents with the nest very close to that of Pale Male and Octavia.

By the way, I've reloaded the pipping photo from yesterday. (Next post down) I hope it is now visible to all readers.  For some obscure reason I could see it on my computer but some others could not.

The Decorah Eagle Cam

The Eaglets are restless, Mom checks, they settle down and she dozes.

Mom wakes and preens.

A noise.  Head up and around.  Mom peers into the darkness.  Many birds have the innate ability to be aware and functioning using one side of their brain  while the other side of the brain sleeps.  Works well for nest guarding Moms.

Then she tucks her head for a more complete sleep.
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

After many days of constant vigilance guarding various cavities around the house, Silver has calmed to the point he can't help himself, he naps.
Happy Hawking!
Donegal Browne