As the city continues to experience an extended heat wave, the Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings have been seen making use of the park sprinklers to cool off.
This was the scene on a recent muggy evening:
These video clips show the hawk hop, flap, and roll around in the water.
In addition to flapping around in the sprinkles, the hawk got down in the puddle water to wet its underside.
The fanned tail reveals this to be our funky-tailed individual.
After the bath, it's time to go to a higher perch to dry off.
It's been nice to see the majority of people in the park giving these hawks their space as they learn to hunt and take care of themselves.
However, it's important to stay vigilant and speak up if someone gets too close. It's tempting to walk up to the hawks as they perch on the fences, but they are not tame, and have talons that are designed to shred flesh. These hawks are beloved by our community and we want to see them continue to thrive. If you see anyone harassing the hawks, please call 311 and report them the Park Police or the Urban Park Rangers. Red-tailed hawks (and nearly all the other birds in the park) are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, with violators being subject to fines and/or jail time.
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