Chasing Hawk Babies!

I've been chasing the red-tailed hawk babies at three spots in Manhattan so far this year: Central Park (Pale Male and Octavia have three kids this year), Grant's Tomb (there are three babies from that nest), and Tompkins Square Park (Dora and Christo have one baby, and are now fostering a second fledgling who was rescued in Brooklyn). In my first video of the offspring of the three nests, you get a chance to compare the kids. You'll note that the Tompkins Square kid is a bit younger (you'll get to see video of the new kid later).

An offspring of Pale Male and Octavia in a tree next to Central Park on Fifth Avenue, June 9.

A Grant's Tomb baby shows off the wings, June 11.

The Tompkins Square Park kid, offspring of Dora and Christo, branching out, June 11.

This first set of photos is of the Central Park babies.

These photos are of the Grant's Tomb baby, plus Mom, when she brought in food for her kids.

The Tompkins Square Park youngster, offspring of Christo and Dora.

Ready for the Closeups

We had the great joy on March 1 of watching a first-year red-tailed hawk for a couple of hours fly around, perch on low branches, run around on the ground attacking bark and missing squirrels, then finally fly to a hole in a tree and grab a squirrel. The youngster then ate the squirrel on the ground, before flying out of the Ramble. I was able to get a lot of video and some really nice closeup photos.

First-winter red-tailed hawk, the Ramble, March 1, 2017

I call the video Squirrel Hunt. There is some graphic hawk-dining footage here, so be advised.

Lots and lots of photos. Enjoy!

This is a magnificent bird, and I kept telling anyone who would listen that day, "I live for this!" With all the news about assaults on the environment and elimination of protections for wildlife, I offer these photos and videos as a reminder of what can be lost if we aren't vigilant and willing to fight for these gifts to our lives.

Hawky New Year! Part 2!

On this most horrible of days, I offer an alternative to watching the beginning of the end of our country: More hawks! Hawks do what they were created to do, and thus are Nature at her purest. Unfortunately, humans choose to do destructive things, and often the hawks and other animals pay the price. So while we await with trepidation the further destruction of our environment, I offer more photos of the young hawks in Central Park, taken Jan. 11 and Jan. 12.

Young red-tailed hawk in the Ramble, Jan. 12, 2017

I've called the video series Hawky New Year! This is Part 2, Jan. 11-12. Warning: there is some graphic hawk dining (a rat) in this video. Hawk chasers have learned that the raptors' dining habits make them who and what they are, and if you want to learn about red-tailed hawks, you will at some point watch them eat.

Lots of photos below, from both days.