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

Sadie grabs rope for the Hawk nest – March 19th, 2019

Bobby relieved Sadie from egg-warming duties just as I arrived in Washington Square Park. Sadie flew east of the park:

Sadie Hawk flying

Did you ever see a levitating Blue Jay?

Washington Square Park Blue Jay jumping off tree branch

There were several loud Jays in the park. One of them collected a peanut that someone left out for the squirrels:

Blue Jay with peanut in its beak

Blue Jay with peanut in its beak

Sadie returned to the park to sit on an NYU building diagonal from the nest:

Sadie sitting on corner of NYU building

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker woodpecker dug for bugs in a few trees around me:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker woodpecker on tree

“Dover” the pigeon was walking around doing his thing:

Washington Square Park pigeon on the lawn

Sadie hopscotched to a few other perches on the building:

Sadie perched on corner of NYU building

Sadie Hawk looking down from roof structure

Sadie Hawk about to leap off perch

Sadie Hawk flying past water tower

Sadie sitting on distant roof perch

Sadie turning on her perch

Sadie flying past tree branches

She returned to the base of the water tower and started to tug on a rope:

Sadie Hawk tugging on rope

It was securely attached to the beam so she was out of luck:

Sadie Hawk tugging on rope

Sadie Hawk sitting near rope

Sadie Hawk tugging on rope

That solved part of the mystery of where the Hawks may be finding rope for the nest; on various rooftops and construction sites.

She gave up tugging and preened for a while:

Sadie Hawk preening on perch

Sadie Hawk flying past building

Returning to the nest:

Washington Square Park Hawk flying into nest

Hawk landing in nest

Both Hawks flew north of the park together. One of the Blue Jays yelled loudly when the Hawks returned to the nest:

Blue Jay calling with beak wide open

Both Hawks sitting in nest

Bobby left the nest and landed on a building a block behind the library:

Hawk perched on distant building

Bobby perched on building

Bobby about to jump off building

Bobby flying away from building

Spire of the World Trade Center tower in the background:

Bobby Hawk flying with distant One World Trade Center tower

He eventually returned to the nest:

Hawk landing in nest

Watching Sadie take off:

Bobby watching Sadie fly out of nest

He followed her again and circled with her over the park:

Both Washington Square Park Hawks flying

Bobby then returned to the nest to incubate the eggs:

Bobby Hawk flying into nest

Watching Sadie fly over the park:

Bobby Hawk standing in nest

Sadie flew over the buildings then continued northward:

Sadie flying past building

I was only in the park for an hour and a half but got to see some great, unexpected action!


« Older post Newer post »

6 thoughts on “Sadie grabs rope for the Hawk nest – March 19th, 2019

    1. These Hawks are always full of surprises. I figured they were getting their rope from construction sites but this was the first time I got to see one of them in action trying to do so.

  1. Wow! What a fantastic set of photos! I almost feel like I am there too. Those Hawks are really beautiful and the idea of them taking roost in that very urban area is so interesting. Judging from the other wildlife pictures there are many snacks around for them and their chicks to come. Thank you for sharing the beauty of these majestic creatures.

    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! There are many rats and pigeons in the park the Hawks catch for the young. They will on occasion get a squirrel or sparrow too. 🙂

      1. Yes, that is the nature of the beast…life is truly a pecking order and one life sustains another. I have a question…How long are the Hawks able to leave their eggs without them cooling off? My broody hens take a 20 minute walkabout, have a dustbath, eat some grass and they are back on their nest. Is it the same for Raptor eggs?

        1. I’ve seen the Hawks leave the eggs for around 20 minutes in past years and there were no ill effects on the eggs. The eggs hatched and the youngsters did just fine. I used to get worried at the longer breaks in the early years but it turns out ok. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your chicken anecdote; that was very cool to learn!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Comments will appear after mod approval. Required fields are marked *