Chasing the Divine Hawks

Norman and Madeleine, a red-tailed hawk couple, have a nest above the statue of St. Peter on the Morningside Drive side of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on 110th Street in Manhattan. This year they had three little kids, and the youngsters have now fledged, fortunately for now into the Close.

A red-tailed hawk fledgling in the Close of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, July 15

This red-tailed trio are about a month younger than the fledglings in Central Park, Grant's Tomb and Tompkins Square Park. The first video in The Divine St. John Fledglings series follows the kids from June 13 through July 15. You can really see how young they are here.

Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. On the east side of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, a pair of red-tailed hawks, Norman and Madeleine, built a nest above the statue of St. Peter. This year they hatched 3 baby hawks, who have been fledged into the area around the cathedral.

The grounds of the cathedral, called The Close, are so beautiful. Three peacocks — Phil (the white one), Jim and Harry (the blue ones) — live there and can wander wherever they want. Right now, the peacocks are molting, and feathers can be found all over the place. The three fledglings have been running around on the lawns, chasing squirrels and bugs. You will see that in future videos.

Madeleine (I think) on Gabriel's horn on the top of the cathedral, keeping watch over her fledglings, July 11, 2017

My first trip to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine was probably 15-20 years ago, when I attended a free concert by the New York Philharmonic there. The church has a rich history of the arts, poetry, compassion, love of nature and education (the Cathedral School is a very special place for K-8 students). The church has a Blessing of the Animals event each year.

These photos cover June 13 through July 15.

Hawks Blowin' in the Wind

Part 8 of the Hawky New Year! series doesn't have a lot of dramatic action, but it does include at least three first-year red-tailed hawks posing prettily on branches from Jan. 23 through Jan. 26 as they blow about on some very windy days, as well as an adult hawk hanging out in the rain on Jan. 24. There is no hawk dining in this video, so it is definitely safe for all viewers (there are a couple of clips of scared squirrels, but they survived, at least on these days).

By the way, I've put all the Hawky New Year! videos onto a single page, so you can binge watch at your leisure.

First-year red-tailed hawk, Central Park, Jan. 23, 2017

I think the adult red-tailed hawk (left), seen in the rain on Jan. 24, was Octavia, but I'll not commit myself. The hawk on the right is one of the youngster hawks, seen on Jan. 24.

Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. At least three first-year red-tailed hawks and an adult make appearances in this Chasing the Hawks in Central Park video, which covers hawk sightings in Central Park from Jan. 23 to Jan. 26, 2017. Not a lot of action, mainly hawks blowing in the wind on branches, looking hawky.

The photos were taken on sunny and not-so-sunny days, which makes for some interesting contrasts.

Red-Tailed Bath Time

Part 7 of Hawky New Year! features young red-tailed hawks hanging around the Ramble, Pale Male hanging out on a streetlight, and a youngster taking a butt bath east of SummerStage on the afternoon of the Women's March. Dates: Jan. 19 through Jan. 22.

A first-year red-tailed hawk takes a bath near SummerStage, Jan. 21, 2017

Young red-tailed hawk, Jan. 19, 2017

Pale Male, near the obelisk, Jan. 22, 2017

The Hawky New Year! video, Part 7, Jan. 19-22.

Another Silly Video by Susan Kirby. Part 7 of the Hawky New Year! series covers the hawks seen Jan. 19 to Jan. 22, 2017, in Central Park. (A Cooper's hawk was also seen on Jan. 20, but not videotaped.) There's no hawk dining in this video, so it's safe for audiences of all sorts.

The photos varied in quality because of cloudy days among the sunny days.

I saw a Cooper's hawk on Jan. 20. I got a photo, but didn't get any video. So here's the shot: