I set out early to Washington Square Park this morning to beat the expected heavy rains. I had one goal on my mind; find the third fledgling TODAY!
The young Hawk had been forced out of the nest yesterday afternoon by the new male Hawk and had crash-landed somewhere along Washington Square South/4th Street but we could not find it yesterday.
An appropriate sign under the nest, near the ‘Slicewalk’ (slice is a term for Hawk poop):
The second Hawk to fledge, F2, was still in its tree from last night.
It was very breezy (note the sideways leaves) but the Hawk held on with no problem:
I had suspected that the third Hawk to fledge, F3, might have crash-landed on the building next door to the Hawks’ nest building.
I asked the front desk security guard if he had gotten a report of a baby Hawk stuck on the building since yesterday. I didn’t have to utter another word! He immediately got on the phone and called a coworker and asked what all this business was about a Hawk his coworker had recently discovered.
His colleague confirmed; there was a young Hawk stuck in a narrow gap between two buildings.
I let the security guard know I was in touch with a wildlife rehabilitator who could come over and retrieve the Hawk. I was then escorted upstairs to where this Hawk was.
It was the fledgling! He was calmly sitting on a narrow stretch outside the second floor outdoor patio:
I called Bobby Horvath of WINORR (Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation) and alerted him that the fledgling had been found and I was right next to it. Bobby did not hesitate to head over to retrieve the fledgling!
This building, NYU’s Kimmel Center, sits on the corner just west of the Bobst Library (home of the Hawk nest):
Apparently the fledgling had first landed on the glass arch over the entrance:
He then flew further west but wound up trapped in that gap.
The Hawk did not seem hurt. The gap was too narrow for him to fully spread his wings but it was wide enough for him to run along (which he did several times):
The fledgling would walk back and forth and sometimes try to jump up onto the glass railing but failed to get a grip:
The gap was open at the far end. But the fledgling turned the corner and walked along the outer ledge of the building rather than fly off of it and into the park:
Back into the gap:
Another run:
A fellow long-time Hawk lover and NYU staff member heard the Hawk was there and came over to have a look at him. We waited for Bobby Horvath’s arrival and spent the time keeping watch over the youngster.
She spotted F2 on the patio on the other side of the floor!
I double-checked and yes, F3 was still in the gap so that was definitely F2 over there! F2 had clearly managed to make her way from her tree to the patio (not a long distance since the tree was just outside the building).
F2 flew from railing to railing in what looked like play mode.
Catching her balance:
Bobby Horvath arrived and didn’t miss a beat collecting F3 in his net:
Bobby inspected F3’s wings, legs, and body.
I had mentioned that the adult male had stuck one of his claws into F3’s leg for several seconds the other night but thankfully F3’s legs were injury-free.
F3 was put in the carrier Bobby had brought with him. F2 looked right in the carrier’s direction:
Look at how well F2 is perching on the glass railing!
Bobby tried to net F2 as well so the two siblings could get released in the same location together but F2 slipped away and flew over the street and into a park tree:
The decision of where to best release F3 was deliberated. I suggested releasing him on the Pless building rooftop. That building is where all the adult Hawks would lure the baby Hawks to fledge to every year.
The adult Hawks would drop food off for the fledglings on Pless for the first couple of weeks of their new-found lives off the nest. This post of last year’s final fledge nicely displays the fledglings’ togetherness on Pless and their ‘dinner tables’ on the roof railing.
We were escorted to the roof. Bobby took F3 out of the carrier and placed him on one of the building top railings:
We all backed up and gave F3 a huge berth so he wouldn’t get too spooked by our nearness. F3 sat and looked around a bit, taking it all in.
Hello:
He seemed OK so we let him be and returned to the street. What a relief! And all done in good time too because it soon started to pour. There are many structures on the roof that F3 could tuck under if he wanted.
Sadie will find him easily now and will hopefully be able to tend to him without too much interference by the adult male Hawk.
We were back in the park when the adult male was spotted on one of the apartment buildings outside the park. He dove down low toward the mews, a small side street where the Hawks hunt for pigeons.
Many thanks to all the NYU staff who helped make this rescue and release happen! You guys were awesome and I appreciate your help!
The Horvaths do their wildlife rescue and rehabilitation on a volunteer basis so please do consider donating to their efforts! You can support them via this PayPal link.
Kudos to you as well R_P! I understand you were key in finding #3 and alerting WINORR. Thank you for your devotion over the years!
Today was one of those red letter days. 🙂 Thank you!
This is where I wish there was a “like” button!
Thanks again, RP for being at the right place at the right time. Bruce Youlton(sp?) of Urban Hawks was singing your praises today on the NYU cam that you have an uncanny ability to find these hawks.
Aww, that was sweet of him! Thanks so much for letting me know! 😀
Thank you for your great work (and great photos as well). Something still needs to be done about the aggressive bully. Will he even allow Sadie to feed her young at this point or will he attempt to drive them off knowing that they cannot fend for themselves yet and would likely starve?
Thanks, Robert! The scenarios you mention are all things we will have to wait and see develop.
It’s up to Sadie what happens and whatever she accepts or disallows (or is even capable of doing about the situation).
All we ought to do is what we have been doing; observe the Hawks’ behavior and intervene only when warranted (i.e., when a Hawk is injured).
I am so happy he was found and you knew who to call. They are so beautiful. I hope they can find each other for comfort until they can fly well and get food. Thank you for all you do!
They really are special and deserve all the best. Thanks, Debbie!
Thank you for all you have done and the great images over the years!
Hey, nice to hear from you! I hope you’ve been well. Thank you!
Way to go RP…. I’ve been following the hawks and all your pictures for many months now. Thank you so much for all you do…. WSP Hawks are lucky to have you!
Thanks, Lisa! I appreciate it. These Hawks get themselves into so many scraps. Helping them is so rewarding!
Bless you, RP, for looking after and protecting these beautiful Hawks.
Thank you, Sue!
What a relief! Thanks, Roger-Paw. I can breathe easier knowing you are there watching out for them.
Thank you! I do my best but it truly is a group effort.
Dear Roger Paw,
My husband and I appreciate your beautiful work with the Red-Tailed Hawks so much. The gorgeous photos, of course, but your information, and also wonderful help to the birds, in time of need. We were initially bewildered and worried when the nest was empty with only the chat online between folks who knew little and often gabbed about the insignificant details of their private lives. Then we discovered your last entry. Thank you, thank you! We see what Bobby Horvath, who does such fine work, looks like, but I’d love to see what the incredible Roger Paw looks like, please! (And is that really your name?)
Thanks, Ann! I named my original blog “Roger Paw” in honor of my cat Roger and his cute paws. It used to be a blog about walks around town until I got hooked on the Hawks! As far as a picture of me goes, I prefer to keep the site about the Hawks and not about me so I choose not to post my picture. 🙂
Hurrah for you! All your dedication and experience really paid off here to make a bad situation better for the hawks. Wondering if you’re able to tell the 3 fledglings apart. They’ll be harder for the interloper to find and harass (if he’s still into that), but perhaps they’ll be harder for Sadie to feed.
Hi! Thank you! I could compile a chest markings key to precisely help me identify them but I haven’t gotten around to it. The fledglings are spread out right now but in a small territory and both adult Hawks surely know where each one is.
Dear RP – just want to add my relief and joy (so far) to the chorus. This posting made me tear up in the happiest way! I am so happy that you kept looking for the baby until you ran him/her to ground – and that Bobby Horvath was available to come immediately and rescue him/her. This has been an unexpectedly interesting but upsetting fledge period, to say the least. Been following your posts for years with pleasure. Thank you so much.
I’m glad, Sue! Yes, this is one of those breeding seasons we’ll never forget!
RP: I can breathe again! It is so hard keeping up from a distance, especially when the news seems to be all bad, but this post is so elevating (no pun intended!), and your perseverance is what I have always known from you! And Bobby Horvath to the rescue again! Let me get this straight: F1 is in WSP (does it have any coloration that is remarkable?); F2 is the one with the deeply colored breast and can navigate pretty well between WSP and the buildings; F3 was released on top of Pless, and has a lighter-colored breast. Can you differentiate when you have a chance? Best – Rena
Yes, you have it right; F1 was last seen on eastern building tops, F2 is the one who can navigate well around the buildings and park trees (and who has that luscious apricot chest), and F3 is the lighter-breasted fledgling. I’ll have to refer to earlier pictures to lock down F1’s markings.
Just want to add my thanks to the comments of others. You are a treasure to these creatures and to the humans who want to follow their journey, especially after they leave the nest and the cam is no longer useful. The rescue of F3 made my day.
Thanks, Marietta! I’m glad I help create the bigger picture of what the Hawks are up to when off the nest!
As soon as the new male pushed F3 out of the nest and you took off, I knew you’d be the one to find him : ) Great work! It’s comforting and inspiring to know these birds have you looking out for them. Thank you!
I will never run as swift as Larry but was happy to have caught up with the fledgling eventually. 🙂 Thanks, Courtney!
Haaa! Larry ran so fast I never saw him again that day! : )
You area truly an amazing person. You bring us a side of wildlife that most would never know. I can’t believe how upset I got when Bobby disappeared. But because of you I feel I know every Hawk you cover.
Your love of nature makes you a very very special person. Just wanted you to know how much you are appreciated!
Wow, Shelly. I don’t know what to say. Thank you, dear.
I’ve been thinking back to Pip and Rosie. Every year certainly is different….
What love and dedication you show to the WSP hawks! They have a guardian angel watching over them that they don’t know is even there. And what teamwork in saving F3! This is a day of celebration for the human WSP family!! Thank you so much – we’re breathing easier tonight.
Thanks, Mindy! It was one of those stellar days for sure!