Over the last few days NYU staff have searched NYU rooftops but they have not found any sign of Bobby. I have spoken with more people who work near or in Washington Square Park and who might have received word about Bobby’s demise but they too had no news or updates to share with me.
Today I saw Sadie on an NYU building top with what appeared to be a freshly-killed pigeon. She got harassed by sparrows before she brought the meal to the three Hawk babies. She stayed in the nest the whole rest of my visit.
“Dover” the pigeon was doing well eating with other pigeons on an eastern park lawn:
A strange Red-tailed Hawk circled above the park. It resembled the Hawk Sadie chased away on the 9th but I do not know if it was the same bird.
I spotted Sadie perched on one of the Hawks’ regular ‘dinner tables’. This section of the NYU building is where the Hawks have fed past fledglings.
A pair of birds buzzed around her:
Sadie took the pigeon right to the nest:
One of the baby Hawks standing near mom:
I always marvel at the bright crisp pictures that this lady takes.
And her dedication.
I agree. Superb photos. Here in my city garden in Upstate New York,I am so grateful for them.
Thanks, guys, I really appreciate it!
Dear Roger Paw,
This is all so upsetting – I have visions of Sadie collapsing in exhaustion. Do all the fledglings still seem to be ok? I am sure there is nothing people can do to help at this point – but it is difficult to know about and watch. I am grateful that you are keeping up with it all.
She appears to be doing a great job keeping up and has her extended rest times with the kiddos. The baby Hawks look like they’re doing well from what I’ve noticed via the cam. Thanks for your kind words.
I also follow the Decorah bald eagles. Last April the long time dad disappeared during a snow storm. That great mom fed and protected her young alone. They all successfully fledged. I’m sure Sadie will also do a great job.
Thanks, Mary. Yeah, a friend told me about a female Hawk further uptown who had to raise three Hawk babies by herself and all did well. It’s encouraging to hear these success stories.
Louis, the new mate of Iris at the Hellgate Osprey nest in Missoula, Mont., has sort of gone missing. Seems he’s become a bigamist – raising a brood with another female and leaving Iris alone for too long. Dr. Greene at the university says that because she’s not getting enough brood time in on the eggs as she has to hunt for her own fish, quite possible the entire clutch of 3 won’t hatch. tragic! Might Bobby have gone to another female’s nest? I know the Tompkins Sq. RTHs have a weird sort of mating/parenting arrangement this year, right? One hopes he is alive in any case. Thanks so much for diligence, concern, photo talent and letting us share the story.. Lucky that there’s enough food for Sadie to be able to feed her already hatched nestlings, still – really should be two parents..Susan
Sorry to hear about Iris and Louis! As far as Bobby making off with a new mate, no, that is not likely. He and Sadie are pair-bonded and he would be keen to keep her and the young Hawks protected and fed. It is indeed fortunate that Sadie has a huge bounty of food for herself and her young. Thanks, Susan!
Still waiting and hoping for the best…Bobbie returning home w/ a tale for Sadie about his disappearance.
On the NYU hawk cam , the little brood appears to be surviving w/ Wonder Hawk Sadie in charge.
Thanks for pics of Dover, Roger_Paw…it is some semblance of continuity that lifts my heart and Dover does
it for me.
It was nice to see Dover! Sadie’s doing great. I’m glad she gets her rest in between hunts. So far so good!
I hope you are holding up well with the loss of Bobby. What a terrible shock for the little hawk family and also for you, their devoted chronicler.
Thanks, Mimi. As you can imagine, it’s been quite rough for me but I’m coming to terms with it better. *Hug*
Wonder if the Horvaths have considered removing one or two of the babies, raising them for Sadie so as to lighten her load. It’s a thought if they begin to suffer or if the toll on Sadie is too great. Sounds unthinkable though, doesn’t it?
The last thing Wildlife Rescue wants to do is intervene unless there is an extreme necessity. Survival of the fittest is a natural thing so I only hope no baby falls behind too far in development and size. In some circumstances the parent concentrates on the healthy babies to raise…then there should be an intervention. Bless all these babies!
It seems Washington Square Park is not the only red-tailed hawk nest in New York to be marked with tragedy. Urban hawks has reported that the cold and wet weather may have caused the 350 Central Park West nest to be abandoned, and it has not been confirmed that the parents are still alive. And Pale Male and Octavia’s nest will not have any babies this year because the eggs did not hatch.
And at Washington Square Park Bobby has fallen into shadow and we may never learn what happened to him.
OMG I had no idea about the Pale Male nest. That’s shocking and unfortunate. I hope they are successful next season.
Your comment about Bobby was so poetic and a perfect way to describe his disappearance.
Glad to see Sadie adjusting to her new reality and keeping the Hawk babies fed. All her motherly instincts tell her the most important thing is to raise these babies to fledge. She must be in some kind of confusion wondering about her absent mate, but I believe she will do her best to raise these young. Thank you for documenting this beautiful nest and the pals around it. Bless this nest!