I resumed my search of the Washington Square Park Hawks at Jefferson Market Library today. I saw Juno perched there a few times yesterday and got word last night that the fledgling might have been on that building too. This building is located at 6th Avenue and 10th Street so it’s a few blocks northwest of the park.
Today’s visit started out much like yesterday’s; Juno was on the Jefferson Market Library spire before he perched on the northwest corner building outside the park. He then returned to the library:
A Mockingbird on the other end:
A pair of Mockingbirds joined up to harass him:
He flew off after 7 minutes and headed north on 6th, taking a few birds with him:
A couple of minutes passed when I saw another Hawk approaching the library. This time it was Sadie!
She was being chased by a Mockingbird:
I was now sure I was getting warmer and may finally see the fledgling (and not only hear it like I had yesterday).
I was standing on 6th Avenue and 11th Street when I heard the fledgling calling further west along 11th. The calls got louder as I walked west but I still couldn’t see him.
He then appeared, crying as he flew over my street:
He disappeared on me but was still calling so I knew he was still around somewhere. It took 12 minutes but I finally zeroed in on him. It was all help to watching Sadie and Juno circle above his new perch combined with following the sounds of his calls.
He was now on the apartment building on the lot that used to house St. Vincent’s Hospital.
He was a few floors up from the street.
He’d watch the two adults fly and would cry from time to time. Sadie flew a little further northeast. Juno stayed closer to the fledgling and was constantly being chased by birds.
A sea gull yelled at Juno and descended a bit close to him but then veered away and continued flying away. But I got this picture of the gull with a Mockingbird joining in before the gull flew away:
The fledgling watched all this action and continued to cry:
The positive was that Juno no doubt knew the fledgling was there but made no attempt to bother the youngster. It started to rain heavily so I left.
Update: A friend of Cathy Horvath of WINORR (Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation) passed along photos of this fledgling on her window sill when it was there hours before my arrival. What a treat to be able to see how the bird looked from the inside too!
I had been standing outside that same bench later in the day taking photos of the fledgling when it was on a higher window sill:
Thanks for the update!!!
I went by that building today and saw a bird way up high. I went to Jefferson market library and saw that hawk joined by another probably right around seventh ave and 11th Street. I kept watch from Jefferson market library and they circled around way up high then flew east across sixth avenue. I think it was the birds you call Sadie and Juno. Thanks for the tip of the general area where they were. I was so happy to see them. I didn’t see the fledgling though I stood there and looked at the building where saint Vincent’s used to be. Must have moved. I hope the two fledglings in rehab get released soon so they can rebond with Aurora and get fed and learn how to hunt so they can try and survive on their own eventually
Sadie rather 🙂
Thanks for the info, Genia! Good to know two Hawks were seen at once over there.
I hope it’s ok if I send you an update. I just now (950) clearly saw an adult red tail flying above the building wheee st Vincent’s used to be. Did not see missing wing feather. Maybe Sadie or the third adult that Bruce posted about
Thank you! You are always welcome to post Hawk sightings! These reports help round out what they are up to when I can’t be there.
I’m having a lucky day. With binoculars spotted hawk on top of one fifth avenue. It just flew north. Coloring was light underneath but didn’t see missing wing feather. Might have missed it tho.
Hi, Roger_Paw. Really appreciate the continuing updates and beautiful pics. I see that one of the fledglings is being treated for lead exposure and that a few others around Manhattan have died from lead. What is the source of this lead for urban birds? I understand that it can come from lead ammunition in the systems of rural prey, but how are NY hawks being exposed?
Hi Bev, here’s a really good article.
https://blogs.cornell.edu/wildlife/2018/08/01/wildlife-health-comes-to-new-york-city-investigating-lead-levels-in-pigeons/
Thank you for sharing that link, San. Very interesting-and disturbing.
Thanks, San. It looks like some more research ought to be done but this is a great start. Thanks again!
That’s wonderful.
Both sides!
Thank you.