Waiting in the wings

All three of Amelia and Christo's chicks fledged this past week in Tompkins Square Park ... Steven shared these photos of the chicks as they continue to build strength and learn how to use those wings ...













As Goggla reports, "the whole hawk family has been doing great and is staying together in the park." Check out her site for more photos.

And from yesterday, Christo...



... and Amelia at play...

3's a crowd

Steven caught this glimpse of the three red-tailed hawklets today in Tompkins Square Park... Amelia and Christo's 2020 offspring are now about five weeks old, and are entering that awkward old-young Benjamin Button phase.

And from the looks of things, Amelia and Christo may need to consider building a nest extension here ...

Amelia and Christo's 2020 red-tailed offspring: Look at the babies!

They start eating rats and grow so fast!

Amelia and Christo have three bouncing hawklets in the nest this season in Tompkins Square Park. (They are roughly 1 month old now.)

As always, Goggla has been documenting the activities of our resident red-tailed hawks... she shared these photos of the chicks, now more visible above the lip of the nest ...



So far, all three chicks look good and are getting bigger, she reports.

Here are a few more photos of the nest via Steven ...







Meanwhile, Goggla spotted Christo in action... this is from Tuesday night, as he snatched four rats in a row, and brought them to the nest...





And a good question: "So, I guess four rats can feed a family of five?"

One more piece of trivia: When was the last time Tompkins Square Park saw three hawk chicks? 2016!

After the rain

The resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, Christo (on top in the first pic) and Amelia, grab some of the fading sunlight early this evening after the showers passed through ...

Christo, on the lawn with lunch to-go

From a little earlier today... right after Christo, the male red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park, snatched something in a mid-air strike (pigeon?)... Steven spotted him right after on the lawn... as he looks to be pondering his next move...





Christo has more hunting to do with the extra mouths to feed now in the nest.

Hello

A moment with Christo, the male red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park, late this afternoon. Thanks to Steven for the photo...

Amelia and Christo's 2020 chicks make first appearance

As Goggla has been reporting, it appears that red-tailed hawks Amelia and Christo in Tompkins Square Park have several hatchlings in their nest.

On Saturday, Steven got a few photos showing one of the chicks...



... with the sighting of a second a little later...



...right there...



Perhaps there might even be a third chick?

We need some positive hawklet news this spring and summer. In the past two years, Amelia and Christo have lost three of their four offspring.

Report: First red-tailed hawk egg hatches this year in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Goggla]

It appears that at least one egg belonging to Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, has hatched.

Goggla reported this from Sunday:

Christo delivered food to the nest, and Amelia seemed to tear pieces off and feed at least one hatchling deep in the nest. We're not sure when exactly the hatch occurred, but today was the first day an obvious feeding took place.

Goggla has a video and more details here.

Officially on egg watch now in Tompkins Square Park

[Photos by Steven]

The egg watch clock (don't forget to set it ahead one hour tonight) is on in Tompkins Square Park for the resident red-tailed hawks, Amelia and Christo.

Goggla has been keeping tabs on the two. From a post earlier this week:

I wasn't positive of the situation until I returned to the park at sunrise this morning and found Christo laying down in the nest and Amelia perched nearby. He came out for a few minutes and they mated, then returned to the nest with tree bark. At that point, Amelia laid back down in the nest and remained there for most of the day. I saw them trade places twice, which is classic brooding behavior.

Hawks usually lay 1-3 eggs over the span of a few days. After the first egg is laid, they will continue to leave the nest to mate, but Amelia will stay in the nest through the night. Last year, Amelia appeared to lay her first egg March 13, so they are early this year. However, I'm not really surprised as they completed their nest in January and have been mating regularly over the last few weeks. Incubation will take about six weeks, so a hatch time would be mid to late April.

Meanwhile, here's a bonus shot from Steven of Christo gathering materials to fortify the nest...



Not sure of the enhancements in store for the nest — we didn't spot any posted work permits ...

Ranger Rob comes to the rescue after Christo gets stuck between buildings on 7th Street

[Photo by Drew Heffron]

Last night, residents on Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C noticed that a hawk was trapped in the airshaft between buildings on the block.


[Photo by Drew Heffron]

After a few emails that included Goggla, it was determined that this was Christo, the male resident red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park. Christo was likely chasing a pigeon when he found himself unable to get back out. (His wingspan made it impossible to navigate the tight quarters.)


[Photo via @younglr]

After a few rescue attempts, one of the building's vigilant residents was able to track down Ranger Rob (aka Rob Mastrianni, a Manhattan Ranger supervisor). Turns out that Ranger Rob, who is also a musician, was performing at Caravan of Dreams on Sixth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Ranger Rob arrived and had to figure out the best way to get to Christo (he also shared the photos below) ...



"It was a bit scary climbing into that space between the buildings," he told me. "Luckily someone let me in the basement and I climbed through a window."



And soon, Ranger Rob emerged with Christo...











"Christo was fierce, strong and had no signs of injury or sickness," said Ranger Rob, who brought Christo back to Tompkins Square Park. (Before releasing Christo, he spoke by phone with Bobby Horvath of the Long Island-based WINORR, the Wildlife In Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation, who helped him determine if the hawk was OK.)

Meanwhile, this morning, Steven saw Christo and Amelia — they are both doing well as mating season continues... these three photos are by Steven...

A moment with Christo on 9th Street

Late yesterday afternoon, after a failed attempt to snatch a pigeon midair, Christo stopped for a moment on Ninth Street and Avenue A ... staring down some locals, including Steven, who snapped these photos ...



... and showing off those tail feathers...



Christo and Amelia, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have been active of late as they're prepping their nest(s) for summering in 2020. Goggla, as always, is documenting their movement. Find her photo site here.

Behind the build: Amelia and Christo's dream nests 2020

[Amelia]

In recent weeks, Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have been busy building their 2020 nest.

East Village-based photographer Laura Goggin (aka Goggla!) shared these photos of the two in action...


[Christo]

Amelia and Christo have been working on two nests — one in a ginkgo on the east side of the Park, and one in a locust near Temperance Fountain.

To date, the Temperance Fountain location (seems a little noisy?) is further along ...


[Amelia]

Hard to say which one they'll end up nesting in for the season...



Be sure to follow Goggla's website (link here) for updates on the red-tailed hawks ... and other urban wildlife ... as the year unfolds.