Today was one of those surprising banner days for the Washington Square Park Hawks. I was at my door putting on my shoes in preparation for today’s park outing when my better half rushed over to tell me one of the fledglings had just visited the nest!
We watched the cam and sure enough, there was a fledgling in the nest. All of a sudden one of the adult Hawks swooped into the nest with food. The fledgling rushed the meal and ate it while the other youngster watched and waited:
The visit reminded me of the first time we saw a fledgling return to the nest in 2012. A fledgling visited the nest the following year too. As far as I know the last time a fledgling returned to the nest was last year. Today’s visit was remarkable in that this year’s fledgling actually stayed the entire day and is now spending the night with the Hawk who has yet to fledge.
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I watched the two young Hawks play and hang out together for about half an hour then made my way to the park.
The Hawk who fledged yesterday (F2) was on one of the regular east side Hawk ‘dinner tables’:
It hopped and flew around the area:
Mama Sadie Hawk was sitting on a building overlooking F2 and watched its antics.
The Hawks on the nest ledge were doing just fine.
Sunning wing draped over the side of the ledge:
F2 flew to and landed on top of the library 25 minutes after I had found it:
It walked along the roof and closer to the corner. Meanwhile, the nest Hawks were cavorting underneath F2:
Upside down peek:
The nest below and to the left:
F2 tucked out of sight. I looked for it on and off during my visit but couldn’t see where it was tucked.
Bobby soaring above:
Sadie watching him fly:
A jazz band had been playing in the park for most of the morning and I assume took a lunch break for about an hour.
At precisely 1:30PM the band started playing again and construction workers started sawing wood across the park. They too had obviously gotten back to work from a break. All of this sudden sound was a bit jarring but the Hawks made me laugh because they hopped up and sprung into action once the noise started up again:
Sadie brought in some food 6 1/2 hours after I had arrived:
Watching mom go:
Bobby brought in food an hour later:
He flew to the church cross tower, facing the park:
The two Hawks did some more jump-flapping and resting:
A parting shot of Bobby:
I took a screen shot of the two youngsters as it was getting dark:
How adorable the two siblings appear in your photo…a head on the shoulder of his baby brother Hawk….
However…I was witness to the occurrence of the Fledgling flying into the nest as Mamma brought in a pigeon for the meal for the unfledged hawk…..ZOOM , into the nest,came the Fledgling , jarring both Mamma and baby , to grab the whole pigeon ,mantle over it and not share a morsel w/ the younger hawk…probably normal behavior in hawks in the natural world, but it seemed so primitive and heartless , taking all the food. The Fledgling must have been hungry and out in the “world” for the few days ,did not find where Bobby or Sadie positioned food for her.
More food came into the nest and the Fledgling took it all again. The baby of the hawk family, did not appear to mind, so much ,so could not have been too hungry. Hopefully the hawks will fledge tomorrow and begin their own individual life in the JUNGLE out there. Thanks for the great pictures ,captured by your camera, Roger…You created a warm camaraderie , I did not see in the nest today.
This is just too precious!