Thursday, June 30, 2016

Feeding the kids

For the first time today, I saw at least one of the Tompkins Square hawk fledglings catch a rodent on its own.  When I arrived in the park around 6pm, one was eating a mouse that someone said the hawk had caught itself.  As I watched, one of the fledglings dove into the bushes and apparently grabbed a rat who then screamed for several minutes.  It wasn't possible to get a clear view into the bushes, but by the sound of it, the hawk didn't know how to kill the rat once it grabbed it.  Eventually, the hawk flew off empty-taloned, so I don't know if the rat escaped or if it was left to be retrieved later.

Tompkins Square fledgling
On the prowl.

A few minutes later, another fledgling (or possibly the same one as I couldn't keep track of who was who) pounced on something in the bushes on the opposite side of the lawn.  It, too, came up empty-taloned, but it's clear the young hawks are honing their hunting skills.

Tompkins Square fledgling
Stalking prey.

Around 7pm, dad Christo arrived and dropped off food for one of the fledglings.  He is still their primary provider, although he's no longer 'preparing' their meals by plucking or tearing it up beforehand.

Christo
Proud papa.

Mom Dora also made an appearance.

Dora
Queen Dora.

She is seen here on the left while the fledgling is on the right.  When she arrived, the fledgling began squealing and mantling its food as if it was afraid she might take it. 

Dora and a fledgling

Indeed, after the fledgling ate a few bites and wandered off, Dora came over and finished off the leftovers.

Dora
Dora, on garbage disposal duty.

One of the challenges lately has been capturing all three fledglings in one shot.  So, I was really excited when they all perched together in the same tree.  However, they were totally uncooperative and refused to pose, so the photo below is the best I could do.  Two hawks are squished together on the right and the third is behind some leaves to their left.

Three fledglings on the same branch

Then they spread out a bit in the tree and were clearly visible for a few seconds.

All three fledglings in one tree

One of them flew off towards the flagpole where Christo was calling. 

Christo
Christo on his throne.

Christo had left a rat in a tree just a few feet away and the fledgling began eating it on a branch.  They must learn everything, including how to hang onto their food while balancing on a branch.  The fledglings haven't quite mastered this and have been dropping their food regularly.  This is exactly what happened to this little guy, who let the rat fall into the bushes below. 

Tompkins Square fledgling

The fledgling cried and cried until Christo dove off the pole and went looking for the fallen rat.

Christo dives down to retrieve a rat his kid dropped

Ugh, those clumsy kids - must I do everything?!

Christo dives down to retrieve a rat his kid dropped

After some poking around in the bushes, he found it.

Christo retrieves the rat his kid dropped in the bushes

Christo with a rat

And flew away from the fledgling...

Christo with a rat

Christo with a rat

Christo with a rat

Hey, guys, wanna see my rat???

Hey, guys, check out my rat!

Hey, guys, check out my rat! 

In the end, Christo took the rat to a bigger tree with a wider branch that made it easier for his kid to eat and not drop the food.  I admired how Christo performed this task so patiently, keeping a close eye on his kid and making sure it ate enough.

Last week, one of the fledglings dropped a pigeon and I wondered if it would be abandoned.  A fellow hawk-watcher later told me that Christo eventually did go back and retrieve the pigeon.  Both parents are making sure no food goes to waste.

See many more recent Tompkins Square hawk photos here.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Kids and their toys

This is probably my favorite time of year with the Tompkins Square hawks - when the fledglings start playing in the grass.  Until now, they've spent most of their time up in trees, so seeing them come to the ground is exciting.

Hello!

Tompkins Square fledgling

This particular fledgling (below) looks very large to me, so I'm wondering if it could be a female.

Tompkins Square fledgling

All the hawks are keenly interested in the squirrels who inhabit the park.  For now, the squirrels have the advantage as the hawks haven't yet figured out how to catch them.

Frenemies

However, there is one prey the hawks have already begun dominating...

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

Sticks!

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

Silly goose.

Silly goose

This play is important practice for learning to pounce and grab food.

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

Sometimes the stick strikes back!

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

Tompkins Square fledgling playing with a stick

All three fledglings look great and are steadily improving their flying and hunting skills.

Tompkins Square fledgling

Here are some previous posts of fledgling hawks playing in the grass. These were from 2014 when their nest was on the Christadora building.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Summer fun in Tompkins Square

I had a lot of fun this last weekend watching the Tompkins Square hawk fledglings play around in the park.  The challenge is getting all three in one photo, but they don't make it easy.  Below is the best shot I could get of all three this last Saturday.  Can you find the third?  Its head is just visible at the feet of the one on the left.

Tompkins Square fledglings

Two often pose closer together.  I don't know if it's always the same two, or if they mix it up. I'm still having difficulty telling them apart.  One is definitely quite large, another is rather slender and pale, and I'm not sure about the third.  It would be nice if they all lined up on a branch and all looked the same direction, but that would be as easy as herding cats.

Tompkins Square fledglings

This one has a very light face and not as much coloring on the chest.

Tompkins Square fledgling

I love their eye color at this age.  While Christo and Dora have dark brown eyes, the fledglings' are greenish amber.

Tompkins Square fledgling

Tompkins Square fledgling

Tompkins Square fledgling

All three have heavily speckled legs. 

Tompkins Square fledgling

As it was a hot afternoon, one of the fledglings decided to take a dip in the kiddie pool.

Bath time

A couple of (human) kids ran around in the play area while the hawk bathed.  The hawk wasn't phased, and the children didn't seem to notice anything odd about a hawk playing in their sprinkler.

Bath time

Shake, shake, shake.

Bath time

Tompkins Square fledgling

Off to the playground!

Off to play

People in the park often ask me how I know we're looking at juvenile hawks.  One way to tell is by looking at their tails - the adults have bright rusty red tails and the fledglings all have brown striped tails, as pictured above. 

Not everyone around the park is excited to see the hawks.  This mockingbird relentlessly mobbed this fledgling, who was minding his/her own business atop St Brigid's.

Hawk fledgling mobbed by a mockingbird

The mockingbird got really aggressive, actually landing on and clawing at the hawk's back.

Mockingbird attacks fledgling hawk

I took some video of the attack, which looks painful.  Eventually, the hawk couldn't take any more and had to fly off.



After a long day of flying, eating, playing and dealing with hostile neighbors, it was time for a nap...

Afternoon nap 

More to come...!

Sunday, June 26, 2016

2016 Drag March

The 2016 Drag March in Tompkins Square.  Beautiful, brave and strong.

 Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Drag March 2016

Previously:  2015 Drag March