Red-tailed Hawk landing on nest, Bobst Library, NYU, New York City

Bobby Hawk and dive-bombers – July 22nd, 2012

I divided my Hawk-searching time between Washington Square Park (WSP), Union Square Park (USP), then Washington Square Park again today. I spent just over two hours on my ‘shift’ before I left to attend to my Sunday chores.

My first walk about around WSP bore no Red-tailed Hawk sightings. I was on my way to Union Square Park when I found out from a fellow Hawk-watching friend who had just been there that an adult Hawk was seen there.

I spent some time in USP searching all the trees and scanning the buildings but I saw no Hawks so I obviously just missed seeing the adult.

I returned to WSP and thanks to the same Hawk-watcher, was notified that a Hawk was on one of the flag poles. It turned out to be Bobby. He was being harassed and yelled at by a Mockingbird:

It never made contact with him. Sometimes a Mockingbird will bump into the Hawks to try to urge the Hawks away but this one particular bird did not.

I moved closer to Bobby.

As if listening to a movie soundtrack, I heard the cries of a Peregrine Falcon in the distance, getting louder and closer. As if hearing the Jaws theme music, I knew an attack was about to happen.

The Peregrine came into view and harassed Bobby:

It made several passes at Bobby.

I saw a second Red-tailed Hawk soaring in the distance, soaring above University Place and a flew blocks north of the park.

As seen from below an NYU flag:

Same image but cropped in closer to get a better look:

Bobby left his perch and flew just over the park tree tops:

He swooped around and flew east, beyond the buildings lining the park:

I searched and searched but didn’t see a Hawk again so I went home.

The only bird of prey I saw during my walk:


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