Tompkins hawk fledglings play around the park

It's been great seeing all three Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings continue to hang out together and play in Tompkins Square. Despite growing more independent, they do seem to enjoy each other's company.

Got your tail!

The fenced-in garden areas provide the perfect playpens for the hawks, and the resident squirrels continue to taunt them.

This hawk not only missed the squirrel...

...it almost fell over the tree. 

The young hawks may still be a bit clumsy, but they are capable of catching their own food. This one nabbed a pigeon, then dragged it to a quiet area to eat.

I love seeing the hawks prowl around in the vegetation. It's not really something you expect to see in a city park.

Meanwhile, all three fledglings continue to explore the world and practice their hawk skills within the park.

This one was fresh out of a bath in a puddle when it decided to dry off on a fence.

 

However, this Blue Jay was not having it and relentlessly mobbed the hawk until it took refuge within a bush. So rude!

 

Stay tuned for more Tompkins hawk updates...

Fledgling hawks explore buildings and rooftops

The world of the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings is expanding as they go exploring beyond the park. They've been spending a lot of time on and around buildings that surround Tompkins.

This one perches on one of the towers of St Brigid's Church on Avenue B. 

After perching a while, the young hawk flies across the street to a building across E 8th Street.

Taking in the view from a building at Avenue B & E 7th Street:

From there, it flies across the street to the roof of St Brigid School, with the waxing moon in the background.

Off to the next rooftop...

Two days later, a fledgling is back at the building on Avenue B & E 7th Street, but I can't tell if it's the same hawk or one of its siblings.

The American Robin on the roof takes off after the hawk.

I love the shape of the wings as the hawk dives over my head.

This fledgling takes a little nap on a mesh chimney cover on 7th Street. I've observed previous fledglings resting in the same spot back in 2017, 2016, and 2014.

Another one gets pestered by a Blue Jay.

A fledgling flies east on 7th Street, heading for a new adventure.

The hawk family continues to do well, and it's great to see the fledglings growing stronger and more independent. More to come...

Fledgling hawks playing among the fireflies

The heat and humidity have been sucking the energy out of me, but the Tompkins Square hawk fledglings seem impervious to this sultry summer. They've been spending time in the shade, as seen in the photo below where all three siblings are gathered in one of the gardens.

After their meeting, the fledglings began to play with each other.

On this particular day, the sky darkened and fireflies took over the lawns. The video below captures a moment when two of the hawks play while the fireflies flit around them. If you listen closely, you can hear the third sibling squealing in the background.

More summer hawk antics to come.