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

Washington Square Hawk fledglings soar to new heights – July 13th, 2018

Today was one of those ‘epic’ visits to Washington Square Park where the Red-tailed Hawk fledglings amazed and delighted me with their advancement. They circled several times over the park with great agility, did some acrobatics on an apartment building roof, circled and soared extremely high above the park, and landed on the top of One Fifth Avenue.

The day started out with a fledgling resting then chasing pigeons for a few minutes:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on a Washington Square Park tree

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling jumping off Washington Square Park tree

Trying to balance on a thin branch:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling balancing itself on thin Washington Square Park tree branch

It flew to another tree where it was hidden so well, all you could see were its feet:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling mostly hidden by Washington Square Park tree greenery with only feet showing

Popping out of the greenery and then flying out of the park to an NYU building across the street:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting in thick Washington Square Park tree greenery

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying out of Washington Square Park tree

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying to NYU building across Washington Square Park

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling landing on NYU building roof across Washington Square Park

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on roof of NYU building, Washington Square Park

It flew back to the park, flying very low over the park arch at first:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling about to fly over Washington Square Park arch

It circled over the park several times before I lost sight of it:

Silhouette of NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying over Washington Square Park

I then saw a fledgling sitting higher on One Fifth than the adult Hawks do (above the ledges the adults like to perch on).

Corner of the park arch in the foreground:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting high on the One Fifth Avenue building, Washington Square Park arch in the foreground

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on One Fifth Avenue building with wings outstretched, Washington Square Park

I noticed a bird sitting on the corner of a building further north of the park and thought it looked a bit big to be a pigeon. I zoomed in just as it was flying off its perch. It was one of the other fledglings! I realized later that it was F1.

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying off building

It cried as it flew:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying near Washington Square Park

It landed on a roof heat vent of the Two Fifth Avenue apartment building (across the street from the first fledgling’s perch).

The higher fledgling saw its sibling and descended right to it. It wasn’t long before a Kestrel appeared and flew above them to harass them:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledglings sitting together on building heat vent with Kestrel flying above them

The Kestrel made a couple of passes overhead then moved on.

Another view of the two fledglings on their vent:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledglings sitting together on Two Fifth Avenue building heat vent

One of the youngsters then had a fine time flying to and landing on the alternate ladder tips and heat vent several times:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling landing on a ladder tip while another fledgling is sitting on a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling landing next to its sibling sitting on a heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling landing on a ladder tip while its sibling watches from a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling landing next to its sibling on a heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling landing next to its sibling on a heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on a ladder tip while another fledgling is sitting on a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying to a ladder tip while another fledgling sits on a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on a ladder tip while another fledgling sits on a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on a ladder tip while another fledgling sits on a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on a ladder tip while another fledgling is sitting on a nearby heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing next to its sibling sitting on a heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing on a ladder tip while another fledgling is sitting on a nearby heat vent

It settled down next to its sibling. They both then spent the next hour preening and sunning together.

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling siblings sit on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent

It was definitely F1 (the first Hawk baby to have fledged this season) seated on the right:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling landing closer to its siblings on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling looking up at its sibling while they sit on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling siblings sitting together on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent outside Washington Square Park

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling siblings sitting together on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent outside Washington Square Park, one preening

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling siblings sitting together on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent outside Washington Square Park, one stretching its wings

The other fledgling noticed something in the park below and dove after it:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling siblings sitting together on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent outside Washington Square Park

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling siblings on a Two Fifth Avenue heat vent outside Washington Square Park, one flying off

Tucked in like a bullet:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk fledgling flying quickly past the Two Fifth building outside Washington Square Park

I didn’t see what it was chasing. F1 followed. The two fledglings then circled above the park trees before one of them flew further north and the other landed on the very top of One Fifth Avenue:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on roof of the One Fifth Avenue building, Washington Square Park

Its sibling flew right by it and over the park square. They then both joined up again to circle over the park:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying over Washington Square Park

They then astonished me by flying higher and higher until I could hardly see them anymore.

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying high against cloud over Washington Square Park

One of them disappeared southward. The other moved in as though it were going to land on the top of One Fifth but changed its mind:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying to the top of One Fifth Avenue, Washington Square Park

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling flying to the top of One Fifth Avenue, Washington Square Park

It instead landed on another building’s heat vent more northeast of the park. You can see the side of One Fifth Avenue on the left and the top of the park arch in the foreground:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent outside Washington Square Park

A smaller bird (I think a Blue Jay) came over and landed below the fledgling.

The two birds then spent the next few minutes playing a cat-and-mouse game:

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent with small bird sitting below it

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent charging a small bird sitting below it

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent with small bird sitting below it

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent charging a small bird sitting below it

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent with small bird sitting below it

NYC Red-tailed Hawk cam fledgling sitting on building heat vent with small bird sitting below it

The smaller bird flew safely away from the fledgling. The Hawk stayed put so I left the park to search for the third fledgling.

I did not definitively spot it. I did spot a Hawk circling west of the garden located south of the park where I saw one of the fledglings a few days ago but I was too far away to positively identify it.


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8 thoughts on “Washington Square Hawk fledglings soar to new heights – July 13th, 2018

  1. This is thrilling! I have been following the Washington Square Hawks forever. This is the best by far. Not the personal back and forth we had in the old days ( I do miss that) but the photographs and your insights more than make up for it. Thank you!

  2. These little guys are so active and play at the Dare Devil adventures.
    You say ,usually no mating until the third spring …the “3 Hawkateers ” seem advanced and I
    hope we will see them one day at an older age…but Bobby and Sadie will chase them from the park, won’t they?
    Sigh…it won’t be long and the 3 “chicks” will be gone.
    Wish we could follow the 3 fledglings into their next phase of hawk life.

    1. Yes, unfortunately when they leave (either on their own or when they’re shooed away by their parents) we won’t know what becomes of them. I will miss them too! These guys have been awfully fun to watch.

  3. Bedtime is approaching and what a wonderful few moments I will enjoy thinking about all of their antics and soaring. Really! Roger. So much fun they have together. Of course I know they are learning to do what hawks do but I am a bit envious! I will rest well though. Thanks!

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