I watched the live nest cam as Sadie, the female Washington Square Park Red-tailed Hawk, laid her first egg of 2019 at 3:44PM today.
She showed signs that she was going to lay her egg around 3:35. In the video below you see clips I recorded of her crouching low over the nest and circling around in it, trying to find a good spot.
She laid the egg after 9 minutes of heavy breathing and pushing.
The first moment you see the egg in the video is at the 1:46 time stamp.
Hawks typically lay 1 – 3 eggs a season (a day or two apart) so we may have 3 eggs by the middle of next week.
Best of luck to her and her mate Bobby on a successful brood!
Great news!! Thanks so much for the video! Sadie is so careful and sweet. She seems almost as amazed as all of us are. I know the window is covered to give the hawks some privacy, but can the NYU people see the nest easily? I would LOVE to be up there and see what’s going on!! Roger_Paw have you been invited to witness the hawks from that vantage? You must have been thrilled if you were. Many thanks for everything.
Thank you! It’s all so lovely. The folks in the office can see inside the nest despite the covering. I have never approached NYU about seeing the nest. I wouldn’t want to during egg/baby season for fear of disturbing the Hawks (the Hawks do notice when people stand next to the window to look at them). I would hate to be the source of their distress! š
I had no idea the Hawks could see people at the window, and yes I’m sure having people watching them would be a source of distress!! And we do not want that!!
Thanks for setting me straight. Let’s hope the second egg will go as smoothly as the first. Momma Sadie Hawk is a great mother.
Yes, there have been times when Bobby has rushed and lunged at the window with wings outspread to make the person inside back off from being so close to his mate on the eggs. He is such a great protector!
Bobby really is A Man For All Seasons. He’s a great hawk, and a great mate and father. We’re extremely lucky to be witnessing this extraordinary hawk live out his life in New York City. He’s truly a testament to the greatness of these magnificent birds.
How exciting and joyous as life does continue.
Is there any discomfort elicited w/ laying an egg?
Oh, dear Sadie …alone and doing what nature has designed.
Thanks Roger_Paw for allowing a discretionary peek into the nursery.
SHHHhhhhhh.
It did look like laying the egg was an ordeal what with all her panting and pushing. Thankfully it’s all over relatively soon and on to the next egg in a day or two!
Wonder how Sadie informs Bobby of her successful accomplishment of laying Egg # 1 ?
I stepped away from the cam for a couple of hours so I don’t know if Bobby has seen today’s egg yet but I have seen her stand and display their eggs to him in the past.
Thanks for the capture. Fascinating to see our girl.
And she showed Bobby their egg.
Iām sending a photo taken by a fellow watcher.
Great, thanks! It’s always a very cool moment when the females reveal the eggs for the first time.
Beautiful Hawk! So happy to see a successful egg lay today! Excellent video too! I will be back to see their progress, and Thank You! Red Tail hawks are always over my chicken yards but they only scare them, not aggressive towards them. I love all birds! Great day!
Thanks, Elizabeth! Good to hear your chickens have been safe. š
Oh, sweet Sadie! You’ve done it again! While humans bustle about their business below, you keep the real, important world going!
Yes! The fact that this raw and natural cycle is happening all over again in the big city makes it so much more awe-inspiring.
Roger_Paw, can you post the site for the NYU nest cam for us?
I always tune in and watch the nest goings on during the day and evening hours.
Thanks so much
Here’s a handy link for you! Click here: https://rogerpaw.com/live-nyu-hawk-nest-cam/
Ah, you are referring to this link: https://www.ustream.tv/channel/e3uYJSDgmbz
The egg that was wrongly called a dud and eventually hatched was Pip, the first Hawk offspring from Bobby and Violet’s 2011 brood. She was the first Hawk baby for Washington Square Park!
It is as if I am visiting an old friend!
Thanks Roger_Paw.
This is the one!