The Tompkins Square Park Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings are still too young to catch their own prey, but they are practicing and quickly honing their skills.
The other wildlife in the park—primarily squirrels—know the hawks are still inexperienced and clumsy, so they go out of their way to tease the young predators.
I love how the hawks are utterly fascinated by the squirrels. Let's take a closer look at that curious head position...
I've tried replicating this yoga move and just can't...I mean, how??
It's fun to watch the hawks intently study the moves of the squirrels, patiently contemplating how to some day make a meal out of them.
I've long said the squirrels of Tompkins are different than those anywhere else. They're well-fed, strong, fierce, and have an attitude. They're territorial and will defend their turf, so they don't hesitate to challenge the hawks.
Who could ever find this threatening? LOL.
Meanwhile, another challenger enters the arena.
The arrival of the second hawk caused the squirrels to retreat to the trees.
These two spent several minutes dancing around each other, kicking up bits of wood.
Again with the crazy neck twist:
Later in the day, after time spent playing on the ground, Dad delivered dinner to all three fledglings up in the safety of the trees. He nabbed three rats in a row and was so quick, I couldn't capture the action. But, below is a shot of one of the fledglings picking up the meal Dad brought. It's gruesome, but you can see the puncture wound in the rat's abdomen caused by Dad's talons.
Although the rat's eyes are open, it is not alive in these pics, and was not suffering.
Dinner secured, I left the hawk family to enjoy their meal.
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