Juno’s breezy aerobatics – February 28th, 2020

I was running an errand a couple of blocks north of Washington Square Park when I spotted Juno Hawk flying above 5th Avenue.

He was battling today’s big gusts like a champ. I had my arms full and it wouldn’t be a few more minutes before I could pull out my camera. Juno flew eastward. He was no longer in sight when I was done with my errand and ready to photograph him.

The Hawk nest looking south from University Place and 9th Street (2nd window from the right):

I went east in search of Juno and found him on a perch I hadn’t seen him on before.

He was on a roof at 4th Avenue between 10th & 11th Streets:

He dove off and flew northwest (center right in the picture below):

The Con Edison tower in the background:

Up, up higher:

Diving like a missile toward prey:

Up even higher and flying in the direction of the park:

It took me a few minutes to get back to the park; just in time to see a Hawk dive down from One Fifth Ave:

A Hawk-watching friend showed me a picture of Juno sitting on a pigeon not far from where he caught one on the 24th. The fascinating bit was that the picture was dated February of last year which means Juno had been getting aquainted with the park a few months before Bobby disappeared (early May).

I first saw Juno in Washington Square Park on May 9th, 2019. My friend and I agreed that it’s possible Juno fought Bobby for the territory and won.

Bobby was at least 10 years old when he disappeared. Hawks mature and have their first broods when they’re around 2 years old. We first saw Bobby in 2011 when he had Pip with Violet. So if Bobby were only 2 years old then, he would have been a 2009 hatchling.

Juno seems young and if he did muscle Bobby away from the park, he could have done so without too much difficulty. Wherever Bobby wound up may forever be a mystery as he was never banded and there is no way to track him. My only hope is that he found a good new territory and new mate.

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Another Hawk-watcher and I looked for Juno a few blocks here and there but we didn’t find him.

I spotted a Hawk on top of the distant Con Edison tower but I couldn’t identify it:

I left the park and was a few blocks away (on Bond Street between Bowery and Lafayette) when a Hawk crossed my path over the low buildings!

It was either Juno or the male Tompkins Square Park Hawk Christo. The lighting wasn’t great and the two Hawks resemble each other so I can’t say for sure which Hawk it was.

I think it was hovering by a pigeon flock that hangs out at Bowery and 3rd Street. That spot is only a few blocks south of Cooper Square (where I’ve seen Juno fly and perch at before).