THE PALE MALE NEST SYMPOSIUM IS NOW OPEN

Pale Male and Lola look at their third set of failed eggs. They wait for a solution because what has happened is beyond their ken. They are doing everything they've done before but it isn't working. It's been three years since humans destroyed Pale Male's many year run of successful nests. Now it's time for humans to mend what they have wrought.

I T' S Y O U R T U R N !

WE'VE ALL TALKED IT OVER FOR THREE YEARS. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR SAY. DO YOU HAVE A NEW THEORY? DO YOU AGREE WITH ONE OF THE EXISTING THEORIES? WRITE AND EXPLAIN WHY. HOW ABOUT A UNIQUE WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM EXPRESSED IN ONE OF THE CURRENTLY HELD THEORIES? DO YOU FEEL IT IS A COMBINATION OF PROBLEMS. LET US HEAR IT.

THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM IN SEARCH OF AN ANSWER. GO FOR IT!

SEND EMAIL FOR POSTING. THE COMMENTS SECTION IS TOO LIMITING.

PHOTOGRAPHS, DIAGRAMS, AND VISUAL AIDES? BRING THEM ON.

First up in no particular order, we put forth the Venturi Effect. As explained in this email from the archives of palemale.com from Dale, an engineer, and a NJ member of Audubon.

By the way Dale, we'd love to talk to you about this, get in touch.

Here is what Dale had to say-




Last year I wrote...about the problem with Pale Male and Lola's nest. Some background info: I'm a member of the NJ Audubon (and an engineer) and noticed a problem with the nest support that you made for the nest. Talking to fellow members in NJ, we agreed that the most likely cause of the eggs not developing past the early stage is the lack of incubation since there was no evidence of chemical contamination or deformity of the fetus. The support on which the nest sits has the shape that could cause a venturi effect and accelerate the air flow under the nest. If this happens, the eggs will cool from the bottom and no amount of incubation by the birds will help.

The old support rested on the concrete and prevented this effect. Another clue can be found in the birds themselves. They tried to add a significant layer of nesting material after the eggs were laid which to my knowledge is not normal behavior. They seemed to realize the problem too late.

Last year you... stated that they [Red-tails] build nests on tree branches with open bottoms. Unfortunately, that is not an entirely true statement. They build the nest usually in a branch Y with the bottom supported. Even if there is an exposed portion of the nest, the tree branch blocks the wind. It's not like your nest support which channels the wind and makes the wind stronger. This year (for the third time), the same exact problem occurred with the same behavior. I was hoping that they would move their nest site but I guess that they are stubborn. As suggested last year, you can remedy the air flow problem by attaching something below the rack to block the wind such as hard plastic sheeting. leave enough room to allow water drainage or you will swamp the birds when it rains.

From a concerned member.



Dale




Pale Male and Lola's nest as of March 22, 2007 3:46PM
Is it only the lack of enough nesting materials even in the third year?




And for those that would like another look at the cradle while they muse over their theory, their fix, or their response to a previous theory. Here it is right before installation.




John Blakeman's visual aid to show the height of the spikes within the nest, to help explain his proposition that the pigeon spikes should be clipped within the bowl of the nest. He theorizes that they may be causing a disruption either by wicking heat away from the eggs or by interfering with normal egg manipulation by the hawks.

Pale Male is looking. You too take a closer look at all that metal that now resides above the cornice conceivably drawing heat away from the eggs.

Also note the more modern spikes above Pale Male's head as opposed to the earlier rendition that was installed on wood flush with the masonry cornice.

Was a switch made?

The Fordham installation of pigeon spikes. In my memory these are very similar spikes and installed the same way, on wood, flush against the building as was the foundation for Pale Male's original nest before it was destroyed.

The current spikes, original or not, no longer have the solid wooden foundation. (Look above you can see through the cradle, the solid buffer of the wood and the cornice itself are gone. That's a big change.) The spikes are now directly attached to the cradle, metal to metal, capable of wicking heat away from the eggs. Turning the cradle into a very large cooling device to dissipate heat. Similar to the coils on a refrigerator.

AND WHAT ELSE..?

IF YOU DON'T WEIGH IN YOU DON'T GET TO COMPLAIN!

DONEGAL BROWNE

THE FATHER'S DAY BATTLE OF THE BATH- Now with the captions.

THE CAPTIONS ARE NOW IN!


PALE MALE-The original urban hawk Dad
Without him it's highly unlikely we'd have all those other urban hawk Dad's in NYC.
But as he and Lola are spending a quiet Father's day in the wilds of Central Park, and the others were busy dealing with their fledglings and unavailable for comment, we're going to look at some other long suffering Dads. One who would give anything for a nice quiet private bath...
A DAY OF DADS
NOW WITH THE CAPTIONS
THE BATTLE OF THE BATH
THE PLAYERS:
Stealth Robin- Remember him? The Dad Robin of this territory. He's the one who hid in the grass and flew at rivals from behind instead of the usual male Robin bombing down from the trees technique. Today he may well have wished he'd never gone to the trouble. Mom Robin doesn't appear in the piece because she began to brood the third clutch today. Leaving Dad to feed the five that just fledged off the nest, plus deal with the five previous "teen" Robins from the first clutch. Dad is the only mature Robin to appear in the piece.
TEEN ROBIN-He is perfectly capable of feeding himself but being the baby of the previous clutch he feels Dad should feed him anyway. Dad has other ideas. As large as Dad, with fewer spots and more red on his anterior than the new batch of fledglings.
Five Baby Fledglings-Mom isn't around so they have been mobbing Dad since dawn for food, following him everywhere. Then one decides to take a bath.
Friend- The first Mourning Dove to make an appearance for a drink from the bath. He is Doorstep Dove's mate. He backs up Doorstep when she comes in for a drink.
Doorstep Dove- She is the second Mourning Dove to appear. She comes to the bird bath for a drink and gets one.

THE SCENARIO: Stealth Robin Dad harried by his progeny endlessly, desperately wants a bath by mid-afternoon. It is an extremely hot, dry, day. The ground is dry and hard, making worm hunting not as easy as it might be. He has dust up to his eyeballs. (It becomes a piece of cake later in the day when people water their gardens so everyone will get enough to eat today, but the bulk will come later, though not through any lack of trying on Dad's part earlier in the day.) By mid-afternoon Dad Robin just can't take it anymore and he decides he must escape his children and have a bath. But nothing is easy for Dad.

1:52:57 PM Long suffering Dad Robin has been surrounded to the point where he's had to hop flap over his youngsters to even get a chance to hunt. Here he is having flown halfway, heading across the yard with the fledglings making a dash after him.

1:57:34PM One stopped by on the way for a quick plunge in the bird bath.

1:58:07PM Friend zooms in from the side for a drink and flushes the youngster off the edge. Momentary possession of the bird bath is a satisfying one up on the bird that was there first. Besides with the heat he is undoubtedly very thirsty.

They young Robin not only has been ousted but is at a momentary loss--where did Dad go?

2:00:52PM Dad on the other hand is back by the garden again and is being bugged by a member of the older brood who is able to feed himself but knows it's ever so much easier if Dad will do it.

2:05:06PM What? Not even a scrap? Dad marches over in search of more worms.

2:05:20PM Teen Fledge stands and watches as Dad heads for the younger fledglings.

2:05:37PM Dad is surrounded again with the little bottomless pits. Note the dirt all over Dad's face.

2:05:47PM Heading off again, he looks back, (sigh), they're still there.

2:44:27PM Teen Fledgling checks out the water and jumps in for a bath.

2:45:20PM Dad the Stealth Robin, see beak far right edge of photo, whips in, perhaps as a training exercise in vigilance and Teen Robin leaps out so fast he leaves his splash behind.

2:45:42PM Dad reconnoiters the area, and wades in for the initial beak splashes and a face wash.

2:47:22PM Now for the rest.

2:47:32 PM Doorstep Dove whistles in for a drink and Dad jumps at her. She whips off.

He begins to lean in...

And it's the headfirst plunge.

Ah, that was good but not for long.

2:48:27PM Doorstep is back. He menaces her. She threatens him with the female Dove's ultimate weapon, the mighty wing bat. (I've had it done to me. Not only is it amazingly startling because it's faster than one can see, but it smarts, it's a true blow, and he's a lot smaller than I am. I've seen a female pigeon bat a male who was bugging her off the terrace railing on the 27th floor without even looking his way. He was so shocked that he was halfway to the ground before he could even get his wings spread. That dove soft breast is all muscle.)

Dad starts a slow wade towards Doorstep.

2:48:37PM She waits until he's close enough and then bats him off the bowl. She watches him go and waits.

2:48:27PM Dad salvages his wounded vanity and he's back on the edge of the bowl. In the meantime, behind Doorstep on the edge of the garden, Friend, her mate stands. Waiting to see if she needs back up. Doorstep tenses her wings just so Dad Robin knows what might happen, then leans down for a long drink. Dad Robin waits. Doorstep satiated. Flies off with Friend in tow.

2:49:12PM Dad tries it again. Suddenly a crow caws overhead and Dad is off the bowl alert and onto the stump, around which most of his youngest are gathered.

There he stands, a moist somewhat bedraggled sentinel.

2:51:30PM And in the meantime, another one of his progeny has jumped into the bath.

And is enjoying himself immensely.

2:51:53PM Okay, last straw. Dad can't take it anymore. It's his turn to take a bath. He whips and gives the fledgling "the look".

2:52:02PM Being a polite fledgling and also knowing what's good for him, the youngster takes off. Dad hits the water and finally is left in peace long enough to finish his ablutions.

2:52:52PM Done, Dad hops to the edge for a few moments of leisure while drying his feathers in the sun. Though it's a very warm day Mom Robin wouldn't dare leave her freshly laid clutch uncovered to help Dad out. Why?

The Female Cowbird also frequents the area and as far as I've seen the parasitic Cowbird pair has not successfully laid in another species nest as yet.

The young Chipping Sparrow waits stoically for only a moment. While her father shucks seeds as fast as he can. For he knows she will be down next to him any second with a gaping mouth and making the Chipping beg--an amazingly strange whirring sound.

4:24PM Dad Indigo Bunting races in for a quick meal before continuing his chores.

And even at deep dusk,

Nuthatch Dad is out foraging for his family

GOOD NIGHT DADS. Get some sleep, dawn comes early around here.

Donegal Browne

NJ RESCUE,OFFICIAL EYASS RESCUE PROGRAM IN PA, AND A RED UPDATE

Photograph by Donegal Browne

Youngest in 2006 when he finally made it into the bushes and off the sidewalk and street while traffic was stopped and with the help of drafted passers-by, gently herded him towards Morningside Park. He spent the rest of the day, under hawkwatcher eyes, branching his way from this bush a few feet off the ground to a small tree and onward until he finally made it up to the branches of a tall tree where his parents fed him. They tempted him with food to move up, out of harms way. He had already been off the nest for some days and could not as yet get himself off the ground in flight.

ANOTHER RESCUE, THIS ONE IN NEW JERSEY

THE JERSEY JOURNAL

OOPS, IT'S A HAWK
Bird likely injured trying to fly, but that's no falcon
Saturday, June 16, 2007
By BERNETTE PEARSON JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The large brown-and-white bird found by a dog-walker in Jersey City is a young red-tailed hawk, not a falcon, a veterinarian said, and it may have been injured falling out of a tree while practicing to fly.
Dr. Laura Acosta, a veterinarian at Jersey City Animal Hospital, said it would be easy to mistake the hawk for a falcon.
They (Jersey City Animal Control) thought it was a falcon because of its size," she said. "It takes time and a lot of working with birds to recognize the differences."
She said hawks are larger than falcons, but this one still has some growing to do.
The bird of prey was spotted on the ground by a man walking his dog in Bayside Park on Thursday afternoon. It hopped away but apparently could not fly.
It's not unusual for a young bird to fall out of a tree when it's in the "branching" stage, Acosta said.
"They go branch to branch to develop their wings," Acosta said.
The bird's sex couldn't be determined because its height and weight couldn't be accurately measured due to its injuries, Acosta said - the gender is generally determined by the bird's size because the sexual organs appear similar.
And, though some were surprised by the bird's presence, others say they have spotted this hawk - or, more likely, older ones - at Bayside Park for at least two years.
"I thought it was an eagle myself," said Kenny Dobson, a Jersey City school district custodian. When he saw the bird in yesterday's issue of The Jersey Journal, he realized he'd seen it before.
Jersey City resident Derrome Pressley also has spotted hawks or similar looking birds in the evenings as well.
"We sit there and actually watch as they catch and eat mice and stuff," he said.
There's also a large nest on top of one of the field's skylights that corresponds with the type of nest typically built by hawks, an expert said.
"Red-tails build a nest that is about 2 feet across," said Brian Moscatello, a manager at the New Jersey Audubon Society-sponsored Cape May Bird Observatory Center for Research and Education.
As recently as 20 years ago, it would have been quite rare to spot a red-tailed hawk in an urban area, Moscatello said. Now they're known to frequent high-rises and even tall trees in cities.
"I've seen red-tails in Bergen County, Liberty State Park and Palisade Park," he said.
As for the Bayside Park hawk, it's done fine, Acosta said. In fact, its appetite has returned - it ate a mouse yesterday, she said.
The bird was sent yesterday to Raptor's Trust, a bird rehabilitation facility in Millington. It will eventually be released back into the park.

Thanks to Rob Schmunk, http://bloomingdalevillage.blogspot.com/ for sending in the story.

From Karen Anne Kolling - Pennsylvania's approach to stranded Eyasses

6/12/2007 :: Watch and Rescue Begins/Eyases are Treated

Watch and Rescue Program: The watch and rescue program in now being conducted. Volunteers work two-hour shifts, reporting, by radio, activity at the ledge to “falcon central” that is the DEP Environmental Education Center. If a fledgling lands on the street or any other situation the would put it in harms way, the young bird is rescued, examined and placed on the roof of the 16 floor Rachel Carson State Office Building. Eventually, the fledgling will fly again, usually landing on a nearby building. Within a day or two after fledging, the young birds develop the strength and skills necessary to return to the nest ledge.

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/falcon/

The Peregrine DEP version of what Central Park Hawkwatchers have done unofficially in the past. Basically the same premise applies; get the fledglings out of harms way...unfortunately no radios. Thank goodness for cell phones. And perhaps we might want to think about an official version for next season. Get communication going and everyone on the same page before the fledglings start coming off the nest. Everyone working together. What do you think?

FROM STELLA HAMILTON CONCERNING RED THE SQUIRREL

Dear Donna,

I'm broken hearted. I've been looking for Red almost everyday. Last saw her on June 1st (not 3rd.) There's absolutely no sign of her. Remember the the last tree she stayed at that's 50 feet away ? It turns out there's a racoon sleeping there. Maybe this is why she also decided to abandon that one.

Couldn't reply sooner to your emails. My system's been down. Gotta keep looking. Please let me know if you hear anything from anybody. Can't do much hawk watching lately because of missing Red. Call me crazy, but I think she said good bye when she looked at our faces for a long time that evening we last saw her on 6/1.

Stella*

As I told Stella, there is still a chance, as Red's neighborhood has become so crowded, that Red has found a home in a totally different area of the park, perhaps even the sanctuary within the park where very few people are allowed.

Donegal Browne