The-First-Fledge-Off-The-Thompkins-Square-Park-Nest-Goes-Down-an-Air-Shaft Saga. and Rock and Roll Raptor Loving Ranger Rob Saves the Day

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

24 hours before Christo and Dora's first fledge took the big leap.  He's strutting his stuff flap hopping like a maniac.

June 23, 10:49AM  The first fledge of the Thompkins Square Park Nest takes the big step off the nest and glides over to the buildings on 9th Street and out of sight.

Time passes and hawkwatchers wait for a visual sighting, the sound of begging, anything...Nothing.  They begin asking people if they've seen the young hawk.  Also nothing.

More neighborhood folks begin to search as well.  What is going on?

A little after 6PM a relentlessly searching resident of  9th Street discovered that the young hawk was down an air shaft between two buildings.

Trapped Hawk?  Time for Ranger Rob!  

According to his Facebook page, at 6:15 Park Ranger Rob Mastrianni was in Brooklyn giving guitar lessons.  By 6:30 Rob had cancelled his last student and was heading for 9th Street to institute a rescue.

   

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

At 2:21 PM, Monday,  I recieved a jubilant email from Francois Portmann, long time watcher of hawks in Thompkins Square Park and lest we forget the creator of the gorgeous layout of  Snowy Owl photos  published in Audubon Magazine not so long ago.

  Francois wrote-1st fledge...is  now in the park, up in trees, after being trapped in an air shaft between buildings in the East Village for almost a day following his first flight.
Big ups to Ranger Rob!

Big ups to Ranger Rob indeed!!!

Rob reports that 1st fledge was in good shape and in perfect feather so immediately was taken to a tree in Thompkins Square park...at which point  parents Christo and Dora were on the scene overseeing the situation so no need to  worry about 1st Fledge's after fledge care and feeding.

(This youngster is thought to be male and it seems to me that most if not all young hawks I know of  who end up in air shafts are boys.  Why?  Are they just the right size, females being ever so slightly larger?) 

Happy Hawking!!!
Donegal Browne    (This is the second post of the day, therefore scroll down to see the first.)

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 

Thompkins Square Park Update!

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

Suddenly, as hopping and flapping has now begun,  this nest has begun to look remarkably small to hold everyone.

This is the second post of the day, so scroll down for fledging news!

D.B.

Thompkins Square Nest Cam Video! Black-chinned Hummingbirds, the Robber Nuthatch and a Miscellany

Photo courtesy of Francois Portmann

Thompkins Square Nest Video Highlights
by Francois Portmann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdG578C2FsA

And the Latest Photographs.
http://fotoportmann.com/birds/2014/05/rth-nestcam-tsp-v-nyc/

  5/15/2014
7:05:10 PM  Buster the Black-chinned Hummingbird is in the Magnolia which holds the feeder.

7:05:17 PM  I realize there is a female in the magnolia as well.  Interestingly Buster doesn't seem to care.  It is rather a wonder that hummingbirds ever copulate as they chase each other constantly and the female raises the young on her own.

7:06:18 PM   A second male Black-chin flies towards the feeder and Buster takes off after him.  ZOOM!  I of course miss the photo.  But they went over the fence and into the distance.

By the time I remember to look for the female, she too is gone.  This is very strange.  Three Black-chinned Hummingbirds in a place where there should be none. ???

7:07:50 PM  Buster is back.  Okay, it is possible that it is the other male but as he lands on one of Buster's favorite perches, I'm going with Buster for the moment.

7:08:17PM   And he also did the flit Buster tends to do to the next perch closer to the feeder.

7:10:01 PM  Then Buster nestles down onto his teeny feet.  The weather forecast is for an overnight low of 34F.  I worry for them.  

5/16/2014

1:23:40PM  Buster did not freeze last night, thank goodness. 

 

 7:01:08PM  For the last hour he has been on watch but he is also periodically....

7:02:25PM ...zipping over and having a long drink at the feeder, fueling up to keep warm, then he gets back to guard duty.

And the last few days haven't been just about black-chinned Hummingbirds.

                            The Jack in the Pulpit is up.

I noticed that a Nuthatch was zipping back and forth from a hole in this tree to a branch on another.

That's his tail end going into the hole where he disappeared for a few seconds.

Then he would come bombing back out as fast as he could travel...

...and then hatch the booty from the hole into the bark of an adjacent tree.  I do believe Nuthatch was appropriating someone else's stash.  

                   The Marsh Marigolds are in bloom.

                                As is the Bleeding Heart.

A pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrived over a week ago, traveling together and they appear to be staying.

Mr. Grosbeak always allows Mrs. Grosbeak to have the preferable Sunflower seed feeder.  For one thing she is less human habituated than he is, so when the Mrs. spies me she flies to the pine over there. 

(Sorry the pine looks so wiggley, the glass in this house is about 150 years old so it is wavey.)

One of the sparrows has found that if she chases Mrs. Grosbeak at these times, she can make her fly clear across the street. 

Just look at the sparrow's push off and focused  expression.

                       There is also a pair of Catbirds.

                        And a Thrush...Hermit perhaps?

               Goldfinch is showing off his Spring feathers.

The fruit trees are in bloom with their promise of sweetness to come.

And as of this evening, Buster is still showing no sign that he's  heading back to Texas.

FLASH!!! Saturday: Thompkins Square Third Eyass Hatching!

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

Mom feeds the elder two eyasses while the third wiggles from her shell.  Note the full complement of rats Dad has brought just in case everyone is super hungry.

Also note the focus of the two eyasses being fed.  No problem with attention deficit there!

Happy Hawking!
D.B.

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

Francois' Friday Catch, Plus Guess What Was in the Tulsa 2007 Nest Besides Eggs?

Photograph by Francois Portmann www.fotoportmann.com
Here she is again! The Thompkins-Square-Park-winter-resident-juvenile-female or Valkyrie for short.

You have to admit the full identifier is a lot of typing or talking every time you want to specify which bird she is. Particularly when the name Valkyrie, and her style truly typifies her take-no-prisoners-personality. Look at the flight shots and tell me you can't hear Wagner in the background.

Photograph by Francois Portmann

There is no question in my mind at least, that this bird has a sweet spot for Francois as she always puts on a show for him.

Mr. Portmann said, "She is a curious bird as you'll see." Indeed she is, as this photograph shows. Her eyes are in mid-flash, as she latches onto a twig in a squirrel's drey. Obviously the squirrel isn't home, but just as a house cat will imagine prey, the chase, and the catch, so she appears to do as well.

Photograph by Francois Portmann
Off she goes again. Look at that focus and energy. And while you're
looking, note the dark patagial mark. (In eastern Red-tails the dark patch on the top edge of the underwing between the bottom of the neck/beginning of wing and the carpals is a species field mark.)


Photograph by Francois Portmann
Here she goes for a skulk across the roof. Eventually most Red-tails learn that sitting patiently in just the right spot works the best in real hunting, but I suspect the younger ones have to get in some dry practice/play before they're able to execute the proper moves. She rather looks like she is sneaking up on that arched inanimate object.

Now how might you know that this bird is a juvenile if you didn't see the color of her tail?

Juveniles have shorter wings and longer tails than adults, therefore their wing tips fall short of their tail tip.

Photograph by Francois Portmann
Valkyrie banks into a turn and cocks her tail for brakes.

We all know what the tail feathers look like, but what about the little feathers that together create light and dark stripes just above the tail feathers?

Those are the upper tail coverts.

And the dark area above the upper tail coverts?

The rump.

Photograph by Francois Portmann

The always interesting urban hawk position when one wonders if they are watching something in particular through the windows?

HBO?

The soaps?

Or using their peripheral vision and not looking forward at all?

Photograph by Francois Portmann
Wow. I believe this wing position is often used by sculptors for Archangels and Valkyries.

Photograph by Francois Portmann
And what have we here?

Francois reports that while Valkyrie was hunting one corner of the park, this red tailed male was hunting another. Though considered a mature Red-tailed Hawk, he looks just over the line as his eyes are still quite light. A two year old perhaps, like Norman of the Morningside Park Hawks was last season?

(Also note the patagial mark on this hawk. He's lighter so it's perhaps clearer.)

Photograph by Francois Portmann
Here he is again.

Look, the wingtips are down there with the tail tips

Photograph by Francois Portmann
And here comes the flight of a Valkyrie...

Baa, pah, pah, baaa, pah
Baa, pah, pah, baaa, pah

Baaa, pah, pah, baaaaa

Photograph by Francois Portmann

And she still looks to have enough energy to do it all over again.

Screen Capture March 27, 2007, Video courtesy of KJRH TV Tulsa

Photographer and Tulsa Hawkwatcher Cheryl Cavert was browsing and guess what she discovered laying with last season's pre-hatched eggs?

One and a half Sycamore fruits.

It's a repeated action in that particular Tulsa nest and it's been observed at least once in a NYC nest.

The Sycamore Fruit Plot thickens.

Donegal Browne

P.S. More on the Tennessee sludge spill from R. of Illinois and Karen of Rhode Island--

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/us/27sludge.html

Red-tail Hawk Update--The Thompkins Square Brown-tails

Photograph by Francois Portmann www.fotoportmann.com/

Photographer and Hawkwatcher Francois Portmann, managed to find and photograph both the Thompkins Square Park Brown-tails.


Photograph by Francois Portmann

Francois believes the hawk with the heavy belly band, above and in the next three photographs is a female.
Photograph by Francois Portmann

He reports that she's larger than the other bird. On a previous sighting this bird was perched in the park while the other, who seems fond of pigeon hunting, flew over. She called to him.

Photograph by Francois Portmann


She looks to be quite a dark bird, rather like Charlotte or Norman. Who, where many hawks are cream or white, these birds are more beige.


Photograph by Francois Portmann

Though as she's caught a rat, perhaps part of the dark effect may have to do with the time of day.

Photograph by Francois Portmann


This bird, Francois reports, is smaller than the first and likely a tiercel.


Photograph by Francois Portmann


True to his penchant for flushing pigeons, he does it again.


Photograph by Francois Portmann


To the railing he goes, with something in his crop already. He stares up, perhaps deciding how best to get one of those pigeons.


Photograph by Francois Portmann

I love this photograph. His posture makes him look like he is levitating in the way Rudolph Nuryev did during a leap. Though this guy does it as easily as breathing. Note the size of his toes and "ankle". Compare them with the Formel's in the photo of her that is fourth from the top.


I hope to see much more of these two.





RED-TAIL HUNTING IN THE SNOW





James Blank who has contributed Turkey and Hawk photographs to the blog, unfortunately saw an interesting Red-tail incident the other day when he didn't have his camera with him. (Let that be a lesson to all of us.)





After the latest snowstorm save one, Mr. Blank saw a mature Red-tail sitting in a tree overlooking an open area quite near where a crew was taking a jackhammer to frozen ground, looking for some cable or other. Red-tails being very patient when they feel they have the prospect of a good thing, sat there for some time. Then suddenly the hawk swooped out of the tree and toward the ground to make a grab. Her talons went down, there was a great puff of snow, the talons came up empty, she then did a three or four contact hopping motion and finally came up with a good sized rodent for her lunch. Which she flew away with to eat in peace.



An experienced hawk, she no doubt knew that excavation equipment tends to send rodents out of their burrows and was waiting for that to happen. But on that day, there was quite a number of inches of snow on the ground so did the rodent appear above the snow so the hawk could see it and then catch it? Or can hawks as owls do, listen for prey under snow and then make sightless grabs through that snow?

I'll ask John Blakeman.

Donegal Browne

P.S. Mr. Portmann wrote that he did see a downtown hawk collect a London Plane fruit. The fruits of the London Plane are about half the size of a Sycamore fruit but also have the fluff inside them. No more details on this as yet but I've asked.