Monday, June 23, 2014

Monday hawk drama

I had a big hawk update planned for today as I spent the weekend taking a ton of photos of the Tompkins Square nest and Christo and Dora in flight over the city.  But that will have to wait as there was some late-breaking drama today.

Documenting the hawks over the last few months has really worn me out, so I decided to sleep in today.  While lazily listening to Simon & Garfunkel and brushing my teeth, I got the call that the first hawk had fledged at 10:49 am - and I'd missed it!  So, I ran over to the nest, where witnesses told me the young hawk had flown (glided) over to the buildings across 9th Street and hadn't been seen since.

A few other hawk-watchers and I went looking for it from the rooftops and the ground, circling the block and asking residents if they'd seen the bird.  Nothing.  I waited and waited, hoping to see Christo or Dora make a food drop to it, or hear it cry out - anything to give me a clue to its location.  But the day wore on without any sign of the fledgling.

Around 6:15 pm, after persistent searching, a resident of 9th Street found the hawk in an air shaft between buildings.  The cavalry was called and a rescue commenced...

'Ranger Rob', who previously handled the rescue and release of a fledgling in Washington Square Park retrieved our hawk from the air shaft and brought him (we think it's a male) out safe and sound.

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

Check out those talons.

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

After being checked out and determining the hawk was healthy and in good shape, he met his first tree in Tompkins Square Park.

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

After being born and raised on an air-conditioner, I have to wonder what the hawk thought of all this.

Tompkins Square hawk rescue

As the fledgling rested, both parents landed in a nearby tree and watched the activity.  I expect the hawk will be fine, and I'm hoping the remaining two siblings watched and learned something today.

Maybe we should name this one Shaft??

Many thanks to all the neighbors who helped look for the hawk today and especially the resident of 9th Street who kept on looking.  Many thanks also to our hero, Rob, who responded quickly and saved the day!

See more hawk photos here.

Previous hawk posts.


6 comments:

  1. Wow. I can't believe how huge the hawk is already.... 6-7 weeks now? And a second on your thank you to everyone who helped rescue Shaft! (Hmm, not sure about that one for a name!)

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  2. Definitely Shaft! Thanks. Hope you can tell him apart from the other two young hawks and that they find their names, too.

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  3. Thanks for the update, Laura. I'm so glad he's okay and really grateful to Ranger Rob!

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  4. Laura,
    Thanks for this great update... and for the photos... and to Ranger Rob, who I think was off-duty! I look forward to many more beautiful photos and updates. It is almost unbelievable how quickly those hawks grow. All those rats went to good use! Shaft is the perfect name!

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  5. fledged rthawk in an air shaft? most definitely in need of a rescue!


    I-)

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