Pale Male and Beauty, Crow Strangers, Jane's Screech Owls, Milton Red-tailed Hawks, NYBG Great Horned Owls,

Photograph courtesy of palemale.com
Pale Male checks to make sure every twig is in the particular place he wants it and whether any new additions would add to the accommodations.

Bernard Atkins of New Jersey asked if since there were no eggs yet, might there never be eggs this year.

Well, Bernard, the Pales continue to copulate prolifically, with Pale Male bringing many gifts of food to Pale Beauty, but as they started to copulate later than has been the norm at 927 Fifth Avenue for some years, it wouldn't be unusual for egg laying to be later in the season as well. Also keep in mind that as Pale Beauty is a three year old, she may not take to the nest until the last minute. (I find a pigeon egg in my terrace water bowl once or twice a year, left my a young female who wasn't aware she was about to lay it. I've not heard of hawks doing that by the way.) There is a very very slight chance that Pale Beauty isn't completely mature yet, and she may not lay eggs or the eggs might not be fertile this year due to immaturity. (Ever crack open a chicken egg and find virtually no yolk? That egg was laid by a not quite mature hen.) Though I doubt there will be issues as Pale Beauty has her red tail after all. Immature eggs is more common in two-year-old females, though two year-old males seem to have less maturity issues. Fewer things in the system to be immature perhaps?

There is a flurry outside the patio door. It seems that it being Spring that the squirrels are being frisky. And beyond their first favorite Spring thing of chasing each other round and round, their second favorite thing is startling Crows.

Wait! I don't know that crow. In fact I'm not sure that I recognize any of these crows. Besides the resident C Group Crows very rarely visit the feeding area and the second they notice me they're gone. These Crows are more human habituated.

After checking for speeding squirrels this crow leaps off the glider.

And checks out the food situation. Notice he has a bit of a lump under his "chin".


Suddenly the scenerio begins to look a little like the movie High Noon.

Lump Throat gives me the eye and then circles round. Just in time...

...for their "skirts" to be lifted as a squirrel blasts by.

They both look at me. Hey, I didn't do it.

Back to the Gunfight At The OK Corral.

They stare.

Whoa! There goes another squirrel who screeches to a stop by the pole of the sunflower seed feeder.

Just in time for the second to startle the crows yet again. The squirrels may be chasing each other but they do make a jump at the crows along the way if they're close enough.

Squirrel duo chases around the pole and the crows give it up and head for a squirrel-less area.

The day was very overcast when I was driving down the street to the library when what should I see but two Red-tails courting above the car. I pulled over.




This one is particularly contrasting but can anyone tell what position this hawk is in? A backwards roll? The two Red-tails circled out of sight into a copse of pines.

Photo by Peter Richter http://queensraptors.blogspot.com/

Flushing Meadow Park Update 2-14-11

(Also known as the Unisphere nest.)

After Monday's hawk release I paid a quick visit to the Flushing Meadow Park nest in the evening to find that Bobby and Cathy are in full swing, and have decided to use their nesting spot from 3 years ago above Indonesia on the Unisphere. I also managed to get a picture of Cathy sleeping on the inside of the Unisphere, a common occurrence for her.

Hawks, Bobby and Cathy, were named by Peter for wonderful wildlife rehabbers Bobby and Cathy Horvath.

Photo by Peter Richter

A note on the Unisphere hawks from Jeff Kollbrunner of jknaturegallery

Donna,

We were at Flushing Meadow Park on Sunday 3/13 and decided to swing by the Unisphere Red-tailed hawk nest. It appears that they are also sitting in their nest now as well, maybe Peter has a more accurate time when they started to overnight. The entire time we were present one of the pair was sitting in the nest during late afternoon to early evening. At one point repositioning itself before settling back down in the nest bowl. I will send you an image.

Best, Jeff

Soon all our urban hawks will be sitting those nests and hatching will be here in no time!

Photo by Pat Gonzalez

It looks like the Great Horned Owls in the NYBG have done it again! From Pat Gonzalez--

Friends:

I’m not 100 percent on this, but I believe that there is at least one great-horned chick in the owl tree. I had mentioned before that the forest edge trail, which gave the best view of the inside of the tree is closed. There are issues with the amount of damage done to the area near the tree by folks stomping all over the plantings and soil. So I began to look for gaps in the trees along Azalea Way, the road in front of the tree as well as waaaaaaaaaaaay on the other side, inside the Native Forest from the Sweetgum trail. It was from this trail earlier today, that I shot the attached photo. I noticed that the female owl inside the tree kept bending over, looking at something in the tree. Notice in the image how she is bent? Now, look further down from her head. Notice something white? And do you see the eye open? I don’t want to give out cigars just yet, so if anyone wants to give their opinion. I’ve uploaded a short video that I made from the spot where I saw the tree. I used landmarks to make it easier to find. Look at the NYBG map for the Sweet gum Trail which you can enter from Azalea Way right before you get to the Stone Mill Road. If anyone has any more questions please e-mail me.

http://youtu.be/wWScMGPVKb8

For the wildlife photographers on this list, you’ll need your telephoto lenses/teleconverters/digiscope equipment, etc. to get that clear shot because it is quite far away.

Pat Gonzalez

A lovely photo of Olivia the female Screech Owl from Jane of Georgia, plus an update below.
Hi Donna –

Like mad dogs and Englishmen, here’s Olivia out in the mid-day sun today!

Lots of nesting going on here in my back yard – a chickadee and a titmouse have each decided on a seasonal rental and a bluebird is checking out a nice studio apartment, as well.

Tulip magnolia and both cherry trees are in full blossom. Dogwoods and azaleas will open this week.

All is right with the world!

Jane

Jane, not only do I envy having your owls but the understory in the Southern states in Spring is downright breathtaking.
And more from Pat Gonzalez,

Friends:

I passed on my owl photo to Robert DeCandido who confirmed that yes, threre are at least TWO great-horned owl chicks in that tree. He spotted them there this past Saturday the 19th. I'm so happy right now because the nest last year failed. The last time there was an extended family was back in 2009.

I've attached a box of cigars, please share them with anyone who loves owls. : )

Pat Gonzalez

I haven't forgotten about Part 1a of Eagles Nest. It will go up along with some great pix from pro photographer Francois Portmann!

Donegal Browne

PART 1b Eagle Nest- the Resident Sandhill Cranes

4:55:34pm I'm told by the landowners that these Sandhill Cranes come back every year and nest in the exact same spot. Sometimes they get flooded out but they are hooked on that particular bit of ground. I was walking on the lane between corn fields and about the time I got to the spot that the lane began to go into the marsh, this pair decided I needed to be threatened off if possible.

4:55:36pm They came from the west, flew past to the east, trumpeting most of the time. They are loud, very loud. I recorded them so you could hear them but so far I haven't been able to get it to load. I'll keep working on it.

4:55:37pm They fly closer. Note both beaks are open.

4:56:02 Then they fly back the other direction. Still trumpeting. I know I'm not actually disturbing their nest as I'm on the lane which is sporadically used by people and eggs have not been laid as yet. Many S
Sandhills are still migrating through. (If I were on a tractor they likely wouldn't come after me. These rural birds view moving tractors much the way they see the rest of the landscape. They are just one more part of it and tractors aren't a problem. Similar to the attitude of the County M Red-tails.

4:56:03pm No trumpeting. Taking stock?

4:56:06pm Still staring? And then I realize a large bird has appeared in the far north treeline.

5:01:14pm That near the nest and that size, it must be one of the eagles.

5:01:16pm He appears to be coming this way.

5:01:20pm Definitely coming this way and definitely an American Bald Eagle.

5:01:20pm I'm thinking that the cranes saw him coming and decided to let him take care of things. Or they may have been doing some trespassing themselves and figured they'd better make a hasty retreat.

5:01:35pm Here is the first instance of the tip of the twigs perching of the day. Is the bird intentionally trying for my focus and therefore I won't focus on the nest?

5:01:37pm He has to spread his wings to remain balanced. Why not perch on the tower?

5:01:38pm The geese standing on the ice of the small pond now put up a tremendous honking just as the eagle heads for the electrical tower. I turn to look at the geese. Are they reacting to the eagle or to me?

5:03:08 Some of the geese standing on the ice are honking but I also realize that some of the honking is coming from the larger pond on the other side of the transformers. I turn around to check on the eagle on the tower and he's gone. Very clever.

According to the land owners, two years ago the power company got a right of way and put in the high voltage lines. Two years ago the eagles showed up and nested. Interesting.

First the lane I'm on went between two cornfields, it then proceeded to run through a marsh bisected by a treeline.

5:03:27pm Then it disappeared into the marsh and picked up again round this curve which is on it's way to being a crick. Though the real crick meanders through a little further down. When I turn the corner I
walk past an opening in this first treeline. Then walk into the marsh, over a rudimentary bridge, currently the crick is only a couple of feet wide, and then I'll be in the field sized marsh that constitutes the very large front yard to the eagle's nest which in in the NEXT treeline over.


5:05:13pm The lane continues under this arch of trees. And here comes an eagle. Same eagle? Different eagle? Who can tell at this point.


5:06:30 Whomever is coming my way.

5:06:32 His beak is open and he's making that not very loud whistle, squeak sound that Eagles make. I wonder what the evolutionary advantage of that is? It's not very startling or scary. Though the beak is large and so are the talons, compared to what I'm used to anyway. Do realize I'm not very close at all to the nest.

5:06:34pm Eagle doesn't like the camera and does a very nifty mid-air turn back when I raise it to my eye.

5:06:36 I tend to think that eagles look like they are glaring most of the time. It no doubt is just how they look but then again one never knows particularly in this case.

5:06:37pm

5:06:38pm Eagle brakes a little. Still keeping an eye on me.

5:06:40 Then off toward the nest treeline.

I lose him. There must be an eagle in that foliage but I currently can't see him.

5:07:09pm It takes me a minute to find eagle. Same eagle? Different eagle? Eagle looks up and northwest (left). I look too. I don't see anything. which of course doesn't mean a thing when it comes to whether eagle sees something or not. The mate?

5:07:10 Eagle looks up and out.

5:07:11 Eagle looks at me.

5:07:11pm Eagle looks up toward eastern sky. (Is other Eagle passing by?)

5:07:17pm Suddenly another eagle appears above the treeline.

5:07:18pm Another example of the perching on the tippy top twig.

5:07:19pm I think it is an attention getting device. He's doing all sorts of gyrations.

5:07:20pm I admit the wind is picking up.

5:07:21pm It is such an obvious perch.

5:07:22 He gets a grip.

5:07:25 Eagle stares at me.

I look back at the nest. There doesn't appear to be an adult on it. But there is an eagle flying into the area. It was a diversion! I look back for Tippy Top Eagle and he's gone.

5:09:40 Drat! Now where is nest eagle?

5:09:52pm Ah, ha! See the thicker branchs that criss cross just above the nest? Now follow them to the right. You'll first come across a brown lump between the two branches, eagle? Then look a "couple feet" further right. See the white tail end under the top branch and the wings above. (I did not see them there as the distance was so great even with magnification. I only saw them when I zoomed the photo on the computer. )

5:09:53pm ?

5:09:54pm Both have obviously changed position. Where?

5:09:55pm Whoa! Eagle is back.

5:09:57pm Circling.

No eaglet heads popping up. (I keep writing hawklet instead of eaglet and we don't even call them hawklets. It isn't easy shifting species.)

5:12:49pm See Mom (?) perched above and right.

5:13:05pm She lands on the edge of the nest and does the thing parent raptors tend to do after they've been gone. Just checking. Everybody here? Anything happen?

5:13:32pm Ah, parent in nest.

I know. You'd rather I'd fall in the marsh and go home.

5:14:16pm Looking at eaglets?

5:14:29pm

5:17pm Looking at me. See where I get the idea that they glare?

5:21pm Mom calls , beak to west.

5:22pm She continues to vocalize. I can't hear her.

5:24pm She looks out with focus.

5:27pm Looks east.

5:41PM Looks west.

Peers through twigs. (Sorry about the chromatic aberration. Documentation remember.)

5:46PM


She's still doing what she's been doing. Scroll down to Park 2. There will still be another short section to come--Part 1a.

( 3/21/2011, 1:13am Currently it has been raining all day, with a particularly bad bout of thunder and lightening late in the day. If it's possible to get anywhere near them now that so much snow and ice has melted I'll go and check on everybody Monday.)


Donegal Browne