Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Confirming two Tompkins hawk fledglings are doing ok

The heat wave and storms last week made it difficult to get out and look for hawks, but I was finally able to confirm over the weekend that there are still two Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk fledglings, and they appear to be doing well. After the loss of one of the fledglings on July 27, I was worried about the other two, and was really happy to finally see both of them.

I found one of them perched in a tree on the central lawn in the park. 

Fledgling hawk perched in a tree.

Fledgling hawk stretching its wing, tail, and leg.

After resting and stretching, the hawk put on its "hunting face" as it took intense interest in birds and squirrels.

Fledgling hawk with its "hunting face" on.

Fledgling red-tailed hawk perched in a tree.

The hawk made a couple of swoops across the lawn before flying up to a fire escape on 7th Street.

Fledgling hawk perched on a fire escape.

The hawk ended up flying to a rooftop east of the park and, as I watched it, the second fledgling came zooming down the street and landed on another fire escape.

Fledgling hawk on a fire escape on 7th Street.

Fledgling hawk taking in the view from a fire escape.

The first hawk flew off to parts unknown, and this one ended up staying on the fire escape well after dark.

Red-tailed hawk perched on a fire escape.

The following day, I found one of the fledglings perched in a tree within the park.

Fledgling hawk in Tompkins Square Park.

As I watched this one, I received a text from a friend who said they were looking at the other fledgling in the Village View housing complex on 6th Street, so I headed over there. Sure enough, the other hawk was hanging out in the trees there. 

Fledgling hawk in Village View.

Last year, one of the hawk fledglings also went exploring in Village View where it chased after mice.

Fledgling hawk on a light pole in Village View.

Fledgling hawk perched on scaffolding in Village View.

Fledgling hawk on the prowl in Village View.

This hawk used the interior scaffolding to perch and watch wildlife in the bushes below. It made a couple of attempts to catch dinner, but ultimately did not catch anything.

Red-tailed hawk perched on the scaffolding in Village View.

Seeing a flock of pigeons across the street at The Neighborhood School, the fledgling flew to a ledge where the resident pigeons seemed to get annoyed.

Fledgling hawk with pigeons at the Neighborhood School.

It was time to go to roost and the pigeons really did not want to give up their nighttime spots. 

Pigeons looking at a hawk on The Neighborhood School.

Eventually, the fledgling flew to the roof where it posed with the moon for a few minutes, and as darkness set in, it flew to a high balcony for the night.

Hawk on the roof of the Neighborhood School with the moon rising in the background.

More to come...

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