Comments on: Young Hawk chased away, Cooper’s Hawk allowed in the park – January 23rd, 2019

By: Roger_Paw

Roger_Paw — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 02:43:00 +0000

In reply to Janie. Thanks, Janie! I did not know that pigeons foul their nests. That's pretty unfortunate. It must be so cool to watch from egg-laying to fledging. Thanks for your info!

By: Janie

Janie — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 02:09:56 +0000

Re: Pigeon nests…
I live in Manhattan and have a small airshaft between my building and the one next door. There must be a dozen pigeon nests on different ledges, on top of drain pipes, anywhere that’s slightly sheltered. They have several broods a year. I like pigeons and it’s cute to watch from eggs to little pink fuzzballs, to fledge. They grow very quickly. But the nests are filthy. Unlike our beautiful hawks who know to slice outside of the nest from the time they can stand up, pigeons foul their nests, and anything near their nests. Gross.

By: Carlene

Carlene — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 20:47:49 +0000

Thanks so much for the link to the sparrow’s nest inside the traffic light. So much noise in this city, but a mother sparrow ignores it as she feeds her sweet little babies. I’ve seen sparrows on the Upper West Side with nests in these places, but I’ve yet to see a pigeon nest, which would be much larger of course. The elusive pigeon!! I will look more closely at storefronts, security gates and store signage. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a baby pigeon, but I’m aware a baby could look very much like an adult at a certain age. Thank you for the great photos and information!!

By: Roger_Paw

Roger_Paw — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:21:33 +0000

In reply to Susan Addelston. The only pigeon nests I've seen have been located on storefronts. They were atop the security gate and behind the store's signage. It's a perfect spot hidden from raptors. Other nests are probably in similar spots; set back under building eaves and the like. If you get the right angle you can see the pigeons walking around on the top of the security gate hub. It's kind of like the Hawks' window ledge; wide and long enough for them to walk on. Yes, I've seen sparrows all over the city use those hollow crosspieces. Did you ever see my old post and video of the sparrow nest inside a traffic light? Check them out here!

By: Susan Addelston

Susan Addelston — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 13:43:08 +0000

Fascinating that with the plethora of pigeons available, the Coopers Hawk stays, but the juvey RTHs are expelled. Specific species triumphs, I guess. Looked carefully at the mystery material in the squirrel’s nest – packing stuff? Maybe from discarded garbage someplace in the area? If nest wasn’t too high up, maybe filch a piece to check it out. Second issue: You’re marvelous about the nest of Bobbie & Sadie, squirrel holes – how come we never see any pigeons’ nests? There are SO many of them – where do they nest and raise their young? Great NYC mystery!! Uptown West Side – the smaller birds use the metal hollow crosspieces on traffic lights – we see that all the time, but they are way too small for pigeons. Dress warm out there!

By: Roger_Paw

Roger_Paw — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 05:17:46 +0000

In reply to Jeanne. Hi! From what I've seen in the past, the resident Hawks have driven out young stranger Hawks with the same spirit as when they drive away their kin. You do feel a little bad for the visiting Hawks but they all seem to have an understanding and the interactions never get too nasty. There were some chilly breezes today but it was much warmer and less windy than it has been the last few days so that was a relief!

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:50:29 +0000

Ahhhh, poor little juvenile hawk
Would Sadie be more insistent on the Red Tailed Hawk leaving the park ,if it was one of her own “brood”?
Nesting time is coming up and no mama wants a juvenile to “come home to roost” when planning a new family…
But , perhaps hawks do not ascribe to these familial traits…but it does seem , the visiting Cooper’s hawk is allowed to remain today, for whatever reason.
Superb shots of the hawks and it surely looks COLD in the park today.