FLASH!!! Fledging Imminent at Thompkins Square Park!!!

   

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

If you've not seen a fledgling come off the nest for the first time,  it is one of the most exciting moments in hawkwatching bar none.

Francois Portmann,  chief watcher and creator of  the above view says that fledging is imminent at Thompkins.  So if I were you I'd be down at Thompkins Square Park participating in the vigil waiting for the big moment. 

Besides the fact that as this is a new nest it is unknown how successful a spot it is for fledglings to get where they need to go, i.e. the park and not the street bristling with traffic.

Another reason to be there.  It has happened that a fledgling came down into city traffic and had to be rescued and placed in a safe green space by a vigilant hawkwatcher.

For those new to the "fledgling pick up", it is the feet you need to go for first as they  are a fledgling's or really any hawk's automatic weapon.  In an emergency, grab the fledglings ankles with one hand (Don't be timid, JUST DO IT.) and use the other hand to hold them close to your body until you get them to safety.  

HAPPY HAWKING!!!

DONEGAL BROWNE 

FLASH!!! PIPPING AT THOMPKINS SQUARE NEST Plus an UPDATE of Other Hawk and Nature News

 Photograph courtesy of Francois Portmann
5/8th, 6:15am at TSP nest:

Francois Portmann reports that eggs are pipping at the Thompkins Square Park nest.  He also snagged a great photograph from the cam of the eggs piping...something we don't often see on a Red-tail nest.


Note the parents standing on the verge of the nest watching the progress.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE AS IT COMES IN

Photo courtesy of www.palemale.com/
I cannot believe how large and active Pale Male and Octavia's eyasses are already.


Photo courtesy of  Rob Schmunk http://morningsidehawks.blogspot.com/

Rob Schmunk reports the first sighting of an eyass of Isolde and Norman's at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine nest.  As Rob points out this eyass at first sight is old enough to look back.

I absolutely love this photograph of the eyass.  For more click on the link under the photo.

And how about a look at the Fu Manchu Bunny?
Photograph by Mike Albright

Not only does bunny have a dark curved line as the beginning of his Fu Manchu mustache, his whiskers point down as well.  Plus look at that shockingly arched eyebrow.  Oh my!

Photograph by Mike Albright                            THE PEEK!

Happy Hawking!
Donegal Browne

Andromeda and Atlas, Rose and Vince, Pale Male and Zena's Rikki

Photo by Peter Richter

 This is Andromeda, the mate of Atlas who took over from Athena from she died of poisoning three years ago.  Andromeda is one of New York City's dark beauties.  In the time that  Andromeda has been Atlas' mate, she has produced 7 offspring.

All of Andromeda and Atlas' young have fledged for this season and are leading watchers a merry chase .

Next up word in from Chris Lyons a major watcher of Rose and Vince at the also prolific Fordham nest--

Found all three eyasses perched fairly low, a few hundred feet from the nest, quite close together (though not in the same tree), and all enjoying the shade on this very hot day. 

I don't know the fledge dates for any of them, but at least two were still up on Collins Hall earlier this week.  All seemed healthy, and a good thing they got off the nest ledge, which will probably be hot enough to fry the proverbial egg before long.  No sign of the parents. 
Chalk up another successful nesting season for Rose, whose winning streak is approaching legendary proportions.

Fledge dates are always a problem at Fordham because the fledglings have easy access to trees and rooftops from this nest. They can easily go on and off the nest at will, and they do- repeatedly.  This makes it very tough to tell when you see one go off this nest that it is actually the first time they've taken to their wings. 

Photo courtesy of palemale.com

Pale Male and Zena's Rikki surveys New York City from the roof .   What a brave new world to explore.

And a link from the NYTimes from long time Contributor Betty Jo MacDonald about houses made of whole trees.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/garden/05tree.html

 

Happy Hawking 

Donegal Browne