I first searched Washington Square Park for the Red-tailed Hawks today. I didn’t see any Hawks there but I did see one of the special pigeons I like to look for whenever I visit:
This and the ‘moo cow’ pigeon I mentioned on August 5th have some of the rarest markings in the park.
I saw Sadie flying north of the park about 25 minutes after I arrived. She was flying east to west:
I spent the next 20 minutes searching the buildings north of the park for the Hawk. I was a block away from the Cardozo Law School when I noticed a little bump-out on the side of the building. Hmmm, could that be a Hawk!?
I looked closer and saw what I determined later was Sadie! I was so focused on getting a shot of her, I didn’t even realize at first that Bobby was sitting right next to her!
This building is on 5th Avenue and 12th Street. You can see where it’s located in relation to the park:
I got to watch the Hawks relax on this perch for the next two hours. This was the first time I saw them sitting there. They usually sit on the roof structures. I saw one of the fledglings on this building’s roof on July 24th.
As I looked through the pictures from that July 24th post I noticed a similar Hawk-shaped bump on the side of the building. I looked through my pictures from that day and yes, it was indeed one of the adult Hawks sitting below the fledgling! I narrowed down the view of that second Hawk in the picture below:
In retrospect I have to laugh. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve overlooked a Hawk on the side of that building several times in the past. At least now I know to check that perch from now on.
Back to today’s sights with Bobby and Sadie:
Sadie preening:
Bobby preening:
A view of the One Fifth Avenue building (the Hawks’ favorite perch overlooking the park) down the avenue:
The traffic rambling down 5th Avenue:
Partial street level view the Cardozo building’s facade:
Bobby stretching as Sadie watches:
Sadie stretching her leg (some dried prey blood on the bottom of her foot):
Stretch:
Hello? Are you looking at me?
Bobby’s relaxing leg kick:
A Mockingbird appeared and flew near the Hawks. I was worried it might start harassing them but it left them alone:
Another leg stretch:
Bobby flew off the building and headed southwest over 5th Avenue:
Hawk blossom:
Sadie jumped off the building 5 minutes later:
She flew almost the same exact flight path Bobby took:
A fellow Hawk-watcher and I searched for the Hawks but didn’t see them before saying goodbye. My friend saw an adult Hawk flying above Astor Place (a few blocks northeast of the park) not long after we had left Washington Square. It was probably one of our Hawks because Bobby travels to that area often.
I hadn’t seen one of the adult Hawks since July 30th so today’s sightings were a real treat.
They continue to surprise us, evidentially. Great shots at what must have been a difficult angle for you. It does remind me in a way of Pale Male’s nest site on the Fifth Ave. bldg. I was one of the 100s of folks who actually went and was able to look through a kind person’s telescope to see the nest & RTHs – Pale Male and mate. No nest-cams then. Always wondered what happened to him and mate? progeny? Especially after the drubbing that bldg. took when they tried to remove the nest! The righteous wrath of RTH lovers!!! And of course, we all bought the book (still on my shelf) Pale Male in Love. How many years ago was that!?! Have been enchanted with them ever since.
As always – much appreciate your phenomenal photo skills and commentary – keep it up! Be safe! Careful in that traffic!
I had to change angles to dodge the intense sun at times but even that was fun because you see new details with each angle. Pale Male is the legend he deserves to be. You can still keep track of him via palemale.com.
How nice to have someone reminisce about those days when there weren’t any cams but still pix! And Pale Male must have the record for progeny…I’m just sorry that we can’t get any of these RT’s banded…it would be so good to know if any return to Manhattan or another part of the city after their initial migration! The Ospreys in Dyfi (Wales) have had TWO returns over the past two years, a male and a female, and a third is located in Denmark! What a treat to see them come back to their home bases! Thanks for everything, Roger-Paw.
I love how you refer to the hawks relaxing on the perch…looks as if it is hanging on by the talons, but the hawks know what they are doing. They blend right in to the decorative scrolls of the building decor.
Looks as if ,you are gone from the peaceful green “forest” and waters , coming home to the congestion of the city.
Welcome home and thank you for another round of busy hawk sightings.
Don’t worry, the perches were plenty wide. 🙂 As much as I love the country it doesn’t feel nearly as ‘home’ as when I’m in the Hawks’ presence.
Loved being on your hike today. I gaze often at your photos to see one or both perched on NYC’s architectural beauties. How about that rare pigeon? gorgeous. Thank you once again, Roger.
Thanks, Avel! It’s always fun to discover ‘new’ Hawk spots on our beautiful buildings.
Spectacular shots today! I love watching the Redtails with you . I have a family of Red Shouldered Hawks that frequent a huge Cottonwood in my backyard. When I get a good picture I’ll send it on.
Thanks, Dottie! Yes, I’d love to see a picture of your Hawks. Thanks for commenting!
I have been following ur blog for years. I have ‘my’ own family of RTH in the woods to the left of my house (north ATL suburbs). I take outdoor yoga next door, closer to the nest, which I cannot find for anything. It’s great to hear them waking up in the early a.m.!
Yesterday, o e was sitting on the raised post on my back deck. In my haste to raise the blinds ever so slowly to take a pic, he saw me and flew off.
A few years ago, one of the hawks, had to be a fledgling, was stuck for several hours in the woods, on the ground. He had, what looked like a green tendril wrapped around his foot. Just when I was online with the NYU people, my husband said he flew off.
I believe there is a raptor center further north than me. They were going to be my next call, but I was so busy asking what to do when the feed was still live.
Anyway, thanks so much for your beautiful pics and narrative of ‘our ‘ hawks.
Thanks, Karen! I hope the fledgling turned out OK. I hope you get to find that nest one day. 🙂
Love your pictures, as always. I was thinking how lucky you are to live near enough to our hawk family so that you can treat us with gorgeous pictures when the camera is on and when it isn’t. I love the picture of the pigeon. We have lots of pigeons here (Augusta, Maine), but none of them look terribly exciting. The moo cows are my favorite. Oh, lost my train of thought… In addition to thinking how lucky you are to live there, I often think about the long hours you spend out in the area, walking for what seems like miles, and doing it in the heat of August, or the February cold winds. I am so grateful to you for taking the time to give us a glimpse into this window on the hawks world. For so many years, I longed to be able to tell you how much I love the pictures and how grateful I am for your “work”, but only recently was able to thank you in the closest thing to person. :)) Thank you so much!
You made my day, Shirley! Thank you so much for your lovely words. I would be out there anyway in all the seasons to check on our Hawks but the bonus of being able to share what I see with others makes it all the more fun! Thank you!
Dear Roger_Paw, Have been avidly following your posts, now blog, and photos since we first learned of the RTH on NYU building and I love them. The photos are exciting and sometimes spectacular. Despite living not far away from Washington Square Park I have never succeeded in seeing any of the hawks when I’ve been there so I am happy to be able to follow you!! Thank you so much from this fellow New Yorker.
Sue Hochberg
Thank you so much, Sue! Don’t feel bad; the Hawks can be tricky to find sometimes as you no doubt have read in my posts! Thanks for following along all this time!