Showing posts with label red-tailed hawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label red-tailed hawks. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Tuesday's parting shot

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, seen on a break atop St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on 10th and A today... thanks to Steven for the photo!

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Wrapping up the summer hawk season

Photo of the fledgling atop St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A by Goggla 

Seems like it's officially time to say happy trails to Amelia and Christo's 2021 fledging... the young one was last seen around the Tompkins Square Park home base eight days ago.

Goggla has a nice summer hawk recap, with photos and observations, right here. As previously reported, two of Amelia and Christo's three offspring did not make it this year.

And you can find some EVG hawklet coverage here ... here and here

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Watching the neighborhood like a hawk

From near the top of Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... Christo and Amelia take a moment to spend some sunset time together away from their Tompkins Square Park home.

Goggla spotted the Park's resident red-tailed hawks here on Thursday evening ... watching over the land like hawks...
As Goggla documented, it was a challenging summer for the pair.
Two of their three offspring did not make it this year. Thankfully the surviving juvenile is doing well, hunting rats and trying to beat the heat. 

Per Goggla in an email: "They seem like a couple who has sent their kid off to college, and they're now kicking back, waiting for whatever is next."

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Damage to the Love Tree in Tompkins Square Park

One of the storms this past week caused damage to a honey locust tree in Tompkins Square Park.
Dubbed the Love Tree by some Tompkins Square Park regulars/birdwatchers, the honey locust located in the Cherry Grove along Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street is a favorite hang for Christo, the resident red-tailed hawk ... who through the years has been seen on the branches here with the various hawks in his life (Dora and Nora aka Not Dora) ... including current companion Amelia...
It has also proven to be a romantic spot for the hawks...
Hopefully, the Parks Department's assessment of the storm-damaged Love Tree won't leave Christo heartbroken.

Thanks to Kim Grover for the top photo and to Steven for the other pics and background

Monday, July 5, 2021

One of Amelia and Christo's red-tailed hawk offspring has died

One of Amelia and Christo's red-tailed hawk fledglings died last night. 

On Friday afternoon, the young hawk was spotted in a dazed state on a fire escape behind a building on Seventh Street. (Thank you to Lauren of 7th Street for sharing these photos.)

According to residents, the hawk "flapped clumsily out of a tree onto our fire escape. Clearly not well, damaged wing or leg?"
Rob Mastrianni of the NYC Urban Park Rangers transported the chick to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side for observation. There was blood in the hawk's mouth. However, as Goggla noted in her post today, an official cause of death has not been determined. The young hawk was said to have a spinal injury.

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, had three chicks this spring. One died from unknown causes in May.

The surviving two fledglings had been quite active in recent weeks, learning to fly and hunt.

And this is not the first time that the resident red-tailed hawks have suffered the loss of their fledglings. In 2018 and 2019, at least one of the chicks died from rodenticide poisoning.

Signing off with part of Goggla's post:
[W]e've noticed several dead rats in Tompkins Square Park and in the surrounding neighborhood over the last couple of weeks. This is NOT normal and anyone finding a dead rat should report it to 311. If one is found within the park, please notify a park employee so they can dispose of it. We have concerns that with all the trash in and around the park the last several weeks, people could be using rodenticide. We currently have an outstanding inquiry with the Parks Department to confirm whether or not they are still employing nontoxic dry ice for rat control.

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Sunday's parting shot

A red-tailed hawk on the cross atop Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street today ... thanks to Steven for the photo...

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

[Updated] A red-tailed hawk rescue outside Whole Foods on East Houston

This past Thursday, East Village resident Helen Stratford, a.k.a. Helen the Accordion Lady, was walking on Houston Street near Whole Foods when she noticed a group of bystanders trying to help a bird in distress on the sidewalk.


Several people tried to assist what turned out to be a female juvenile red-tailed hawk. Whenever anyone got too close, the agitated young hawk tried to fly off, landing in the street where a car clipped her.


As EVG correspondent Steven reports, Stratford took charge of the situation, first going into Whole Foods at the Bowery and commandeering two shopping baskets to help corral the hawk. She also asked Whole Foods staffers to find a large cardboard box and punch holes in it. 


Stratford and a bystander successfully got the hawk into the makeshift basket cage, where she covered it with her shawl. Stratford and a tourist from Austin, Texas, then called a Lyft and transported their passenger to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side. 


In a follow-up on Twitter, the Wild Bird Fund reported that the young hawk, estimated to be about a year old, "got into a fight with another raptor," which led to the collision on the sidewalk and street. 


Fortunately, the Wild Bird Fund also reported that the hawk "is stunned but not badly injured." A volunteer said that they would eventually release the hawk back into the wild.


For now, the Wild Bird Fund has given the hawk the nickname "Helen." 

Updated 6 p.m. 

The Wild Bird Fund released the hawk this afternoon in Central Park... Stratford can be heard in the background calling out "we love you" as the hawk flies off...

 

Photo by Phyllis Tseng via Twitter

Sunday, June 27, 2021

Young red-tailed hawks are off to a flying start in Tompkins Square Park

The two young red-tailed hawks continue to be quite active in Tompkins Square Park, honing their hunting and flying skills. (Check out Goggla's site for more photos and commentary.) 

These photos by Steven from earlier this past week show one of Amelia and Christo's offspring heading out of the Park and onto a building on Seventh Street...
... and a rare photo of the siblings together...
... and with Papa Christo...
...and some bonus footage via Greg Masters of one of the juveniles with his very first pigeon...

 

Sunday, June 20, 2021

A father-fledgling moment in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

Here is Christo, one of the resident red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park, after a successful food run.

Christo is later seen feeding one of the 2021 fledglings that he is raising this summer with Amelia...
Then, well, the food transfer broke down, and the morsel of (pigeon? rat?) fell to the ground...

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Beware of low-flying juvenile red-tailed hawks!

Amelia and Christo's 2021 offspring are in the flier education phase of their young life in Tompkins Square Park... so their flight patterns, for now, can be at the park-bench level...
Derek Berg took these photos this morning... the juvenile red-tailed hawks usually seem to be frolicking in the early morning hours...

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Young red-tailed hawk branches out in Tompkins Square Park

One of the red-tailed hawk chicks got pretty far from the nest today ... exploring the branches and getting more comfortable with the whole idea-of-flying thing. 

Steven took these photos. This is roughly what 2 months old looks like. (The first hatch took place the third week of April.)
... and Mark H. shared this photo... the youngster is already making new — and, admittedly annoying — friends in the Park...
Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, had three chicks this spring. (Unfortunately, one didn't make it.)

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Wednesday's parting shots

Christo, one of the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, was up to something today... or maybe on to something. 

Steven saw big daddy swoop onto the side of a building on Ninth Street near Avenue A... intent on whatever was inside this hole in the wall ...

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Report: One of Amelia and Christo's 2021 offspring has died

Sad news out of Tompkins Square Park. It appears that one of Amelia and Christo's 2021 chicks has died. 

Local red-tailed hawk documentarian Goggla reported this yesterday:
Unfortunately, we have no idea what happened, when exactly the chick passed away, or where the body is now. It's likely still up in the tree, but there is no way to check up there and, without a body, no way to know what caused the chick's death. Any stories floating around the park are pure speculation. The last time we observed the chick, it appeared fine, but they were all still too small to be able to get a really good look at them. Of course, we're watching the remaining two chicks closely.
As she points out, this is not the first time that the resident red-tailed hawks have suffered the loss of their fledglings. In 2018 and 2019, at least one of the chicks died from rodenticide poisoning.

In more positive news, the other two chicks appear to be doing well ... and they are briefly in that awkward 7th-grade phase as they mature into lean, rat-hunting machines.
Thanks to Goggla for the photos!

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Wednesday's parting shots

Christo*****, the resident red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park, road tripped to Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery today... where Derek Berg took these photos...
***** Hold on! Per Goggla, this may not actually be Christo! It is defintiely an adult red-tailed hawk... but this hawk has a molting tail, and Christo usually molts later in the summer. Perhaps it's one of the hawks from Washington Square Park... or an adult red-tail stranger... to be continued...

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Nest watch: The red-tailed chicks are growing up quickly in Tompkins Square Park

Just last week, we noted that Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have three chicks in the nest this spring.

Since then, as Goggla notes, the hawklets have nearly doubled in size. (That's what a steady diet of rats and pigeons will do...)

So what's next?
Checking my notes from last year, the hawk chicks all fledged the nest the first week of June. The next two weeks should be interesting as the nestlings continue to develop their immature plumage and start exploring the branches around the nest.

Soon after, they'll start ignoring everything their parents say. 

Please visit Goggla's site for more photos of and observations about these red-tailed chicks.  

Monday, May 17, 2021

Monday's parting shot

Amelia and Christo were taking a quick break from nest duties in Tompkins Square Park late this afternoon atop the St. Nicholas of Myra Church on Avenue A and 10th Street... but a dive-bombing blue jay ruined the vibe... photo by Steven...

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

There are 3 (!!!) chicks for red-tailed hawks Amelia and Christo in Tompkins Square Park

We have confirmation that Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have three chicks in the nest this spring... Goggla shared the news — and these photos — from yesterday.

You can see the three nestlings in the top photo with Amelia.

Per Goggla: "This marks the second year in a row that the pair have produced three offspring, and they are all looking lively, which is great news."

And some solo shots...
Goggla has more photos and videos at this link.

Friday, April 30, 2021

First sighting of Amelia and Christo's 2021 red-hawk offspring

Goggla shares the first photo of Amelia and Christo's chick ... roughly one week after the reported hatching

While we want to respect the family's privacy at this time, EV Arrow has other ideas...
Urban Hawks caught sight of a second chick (find those pics and videos here).

As Goggla noted, there were three hawklets last year, so there's hope for No. 3 in the nest. Head on over to her site for more photos and videos.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Tuesday's parting shots

Christo, one of the red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park, took a nest break yesterday ... and visited some children... or was his mind elsewhere?
Per jackflashnyc, who shared these pics: "He seemed curious of the kids, though moments later we found a mortally wounded rat at our feet that may have been his real focus."

Friday, April 23, 2021

Happy Hatch Day for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park

It appears that at least one egg belonging to Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, has hatched. (And thanks to Steven for these photos!)

Goggla has been keeping an eye on the nest and has noticed a change in behavior starting on Tuesday evening... as the two went into parenting mode. 

Per Goggla:
Christo perched on the edge of the nest while Amelia stayed inside. He appeared to be watching and/or waiting, something we've seen him do on hatch days in previous years. The hawks stayed in this position for over two hours, which is also notable. Finally, Amelia got up and the two of them fussed around with some food, Christo watching as Amelia tore it up, then went through the motions of feeding a chick deep in the nest.
What's going on up there?
We have no idea how many eggs or chicks there are in the nest, but can expect 1-3 nestlings. It may be another week or so before we catch a glimpse of any fuzzy white heads peeking over the edge of the nest, so we'll have to wait and be surprised.
Head over to Goggla's site for more details... plus check out her video of Christo riding out the hailstorm on Wednesday from atop St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A and 10th Street.