Friday, July 26, 2024

What's a better breakfast - rodent or banana?

Good morning from the main lawn of Tompkins Square Park!

A fledgling hawk flies away from a dog in Tompkins Square.

The hawk above had been playing on the lawn until someone let their unleashed dog spoil the fun. After the dog arrived, the hawk flew into the trees.

Earlier that same morning, the fledgling played around with the construction netting at the bathrooms.

Fledgling hawk playing on scaffolding.

Fledgling hawk taking off from scaffolding.

Suddenly, the hawk took off and swooped across the skateboard area where it landed under a bench and pulled up what I thought was prey...

Fledgling hawk catches a banana!

...but it turned out to be a banana!

Fledgling hawk catches a banana!

Not satisfied with old fruit, the hawk went looking for better breakfast options.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square.

The fledgling swooped back across the play area and came up with a rodent. I'm not sure if it's a large mouse or small rat.

Fledgling hawk catches a rodent for breakfast.

Fledgling hawk catches a rodent for breakfast.

Fledgling hawk catches a rodent for breakfast.

Fledgling hawk catches a rodent for breakfast.

It didn't take long to eat its small meal.

Fledgling hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling hawk in Tompkins Square.

The snack was just enough to provide some energy to go exploring.

Fledgling hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling hawk in Tompkins Square.

Fledgling hawk flying over Tompkins Square.

Later in the day, one of the hawks (I don't know if it was the same one as above) caught a pigeon and took it to a tree to eat. One of the resident squirrels just had to get a closer look.

Squirrel confronts hawk as it eats a pigeon.

To my knowledge, the young hawks have still not been able to catch a squirrel, but the squirrels should definitely be on their guard.

More to come...

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