I was on my way to Washington Square Park when I spotted a Hawk on a water tower I hadn’t seen one perched on before:
I saw by its markings and coloring that it was Sadie (the female Washington Square Park Hawk). She flew off and headed west before I could get a good picture of her. I was heading west myself and saw her again as she circled above Broadway. She rounded the bend and disappeared.
A Hawk was atop the distant Con Edison tower when I reached the park:
I was not 100% sure which Hawk it was but I think it was Bobby because of the Hawk’s choice of perch. I believe I’ve only seen Bobby sit on that particular detail.
He moved to another perch:
He flew off when I wasn’t looking.
Sadie Hawk appeared in the park 10 minutes later. She flew to the southwestern corner building:
Bobby flew past the trees (and Sadie) a minute later:
He landed on a building diagonally across (and below) from Sadie:
He flew to another one of those flat building top structures further south:
Sadie herself then flew past the trees and joined Bobby:
Bobby on the left:
Sadie picked up a bit of furry food (either a rat or squirrel) then flew further south. I did not see if she brought the food with her. Those flat structures have been used as ‘dinner tables’ in the past.
Both Hawks were now in the vicinity of 3rd Street and Sullivan Streets (for all you New Yorkers). 3rd Street is one block south of the park.
Now this part was especially fun; I had first seen Sadie on a particularly hard-to-see water tower in that area back in 2016 so I thought I may as well check it to see if she was there. And she was!
This tower is so obscure, you can only see it from this vantage point:
A fellow Hawk-watcher and I have tried to get other views of this water tower (even circling the block for a peek) but the only way to see it from the street is through that sliver of space between those buildings.
Heat waves did me no favor when trying getting a good shot but here is a closer look of Sadie sitting on that water tower:
Sadie flew off but I couldn’t tell where she went.
Bobby was now on the southwestern park building. He was looking in the direction she had been perched:
He was so alert. Was he watching her?
Up and away:
The Hawks were now nowhere to be found.
The speckled ‘moo cow’ I sometimes look for was back on the same lamp post I saw him/her on the 6th:
I believe it’s time I give him a nickname now that he’s become so familiar. So please allow me to properly introduce you to “Dover”, named after the White Cliffs of Dover and because he is a dove:
He flew off to join pigeons in the east side of the park:
He flew to another set of lamps 5 minutes later:
It appears that sitting atop these lamp posts around the park fountain and surveying the area is his thing.
A Hawk circled just north of the park a few minutes later but didn’t come closer to the park.
I left the park and was heading east when I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk circling over Broadway:
I was a bit far to identify this Hawk but I think it was Bobby.
All this action took place over an hour and twenty minutes. Another fine Hawk day in the books!
You have confirmed Dover as a male…as Doves mate for life, have you seen a mate, Roger_Paw?
Sitting on the white globes , Dover appears as an ornament ,celebrating the winter snow you shall be receiving any time soon.
Thanks for tracking the hawks…I picture you running about to catch the pair in the WSP …It must be difficult tracking them both through weather , people in the park and all the other favorite wee critters who share the space in the park foliage and roosting spots.
I have not confirmed he’s a male but sense he might be by his behavior. And of course I could be wrong! I will have to study him more to see if he is pair bonded with another pigeon. I haven’t noticed that yet.
A saving grace is that the Hawks mostly keep to themselves at high ground and aren’t blocked from view by people in the park and side streets. When the tree foliage is thick you have to stop and search very slowly and carefully for the Hawks. It’s fun because it’s like playing hide and seek (even though you’re the only one playing the game). 🙂
Dove usually indicates a bird that is white or nearly white, so Dover is the perfect name for this bird! And you’re right, he’s a dove. I think pigeons are more often called rock doves or rock pigeons.
Doves are used as symbols of love and peace, or as messengers. The dove as a symbol of peace originated with early Christians, who portrayed the act of baptism as a dove holding an olive branch in its beak. And according to Genesis a dove was released by Noah after the flood in order to find land. It came back carrying a freshly plucked olive leaf.
Welcome Dover!!
Thanks, Carlene! I guess I’m going to have to check on Dover every time I go to the park now that he’s a sensation. 🙂 I just hope “Sandy”, another pigeon I like and have featured before, won’t get too jealous.