Amelia and Christo's chicks looking ready to wing it in Tompkins Square Park

Photos Monday by Steven 

Amelia and Christo's 2022 chicks are GROWING so quickly... and looking more and more each day as if they're ready to branch out...

Goggla has excellent observations here about the hawklets, roughly 5 weeks old now... 

The appearance of the chicks will change quickly now. They will soon lose all the fuzzy down and should start exercising their wings more. The next step for them will be exploring the branches outside the nest... 

Goggla also shared some insights on photographing the red-tailed hawks or any other urban wildlife in a previous post. (AND PLEASE — NO DRONES!)

Once again, 3's company for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

As you may have heard/seen, Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have three chicks in the nest this spring.

Local red-tailed hawk documentarian Goggla first noted their arrival last week. Per her timeline:

The first hatch was April 17, but we were not able to see any of the nestlings until April 25. A second chick was seen April 27, and the third on April 30. 

Check out her site for more on the hawks — and other NYC wildlife.

The chicks are, as always, growing quickly... and coming into view for the hawkarazzi ...

This is the third consecutive year Amelia and Christo have hatched three chicks. Last year, just one of Amelia and Christo's three offspring survived. However, all three survived to fledge in 2020. 

Longtime hawk regulars may recall when Christo and his then hawk-pal Dora set up the nest in more precarious quarters, like an AC on the Christodora House (2014) or the Ageloff Towers (2015). 🙀

With work permits approved, Amelia and Christo start fortifying their nest in Tompkins Square Park

Steven shared these photos of our resident red-tailed hawks, Amelia and Christo, hard at work in Tompkins Square Park this past week.

Christo, in particular, was spotted gathering construction materials (sticks) to help fortify the family nest...(click on the images for a bigger view)

As Goggla has noted, this is about the time of the winter season in which the hawks assemble (or reassemble!) their nests for the upcoming breeding season.

A young hawk hangs out on 5th Street

Photos by Steven

On Wednesday morning, a juvenile red-tailed hawk — likely migrating through the area — came to rest on a fire escape on this Fifth Street building.

There was a lot of curiosity, then concern, as the young hawk hunkered down here between Avenue C and Avenue D for nearly 20 hours. 

Eventually, some members of the local bird-watching community called Ranger Rob (aka Rob Mastrianni, a Manhattan Ranger supervisor), to come take a look.

It all ended yesterday without any further drama, however. Before Rob had the chance to leave for Fifth Street, the hawk, who did not appear to be injured, flew off to unknown parts.

Christo, badass

Today in Tompkins Square Park, a stupid blue jay was doing his/her best to buzz Christo, one of the resident red-tailed hawks, as these photos by Steven show...

But Christo paid no mind ...

He then flew off and caught a rodent ...

Of mice and hawks

Steven spotted Christo, one of the resident red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park, on the hunt...

... successfully zeroing in on a smallish target — a mouse...

For Christo with some larger prey, check out this crazy Instagram pic via Goggla.

Friday's parting shot

Christo v. Squirrel with nut in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Steven...

Weekend dining with Amelia and Christo

A moment with Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park... enjoying a pigeon in the company of each other... thanks for Steven for the photos...

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!

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. 

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."

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

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's parting shot

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

[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

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...

 

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...

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...

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.)