Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Fall Hawks

The Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings appear to all be off on their fall migration journeys, so parents, Amelia and Charlie, have some time to themselves. I haven't been tracking them too closely recently, but I found Amelia perched on the dome of Most Holy Redeemer church earlier this week.

Red-tailed hawk, Amelia, perched on Most Holy Redeemer church.

Red-tailed hawk, Amelia, perched on the dome of Most Holy Redeemer church.

Most Holy Redeemer is one of the favorite sites where our local hawks spend their time. Beginning with Christo and Dora, and continuing with Charlie and Amelia, the church dome and cross serve as a resting place and lookout for the birds. They take their meals up there and spend a lot of time surveying their territory from the north and east sides.
 
Back in 2015, Christo and Dora nested on the Ageloff building on Avenue A, a half block from the church. They had three chicks that year and one of the fledglings spent and afternoon frolicking on the slope of the dome. One of its siblings later managed to change the time on the church clock, which is one of my favorite fledgling hawk memories. Posts and photos from that year can be found here.
 
The church is now in danger. EV Grieve has extensive details on the situation, but the short version is the church needs to be landmarked or it may be destroyed. I can't imagine the East Village without this magnificent church, and I really love how the hawks chose to settle in this neighborhood, making the church tower the centerpiece of their territory.
 
Below are images of some of the other Red-Tailed Hawks I've spent some time with across the city.
 
This is a male in Queens being assaulted by a Northern Mockingbird. 

Mockingbird assaults a Red-Tailed Hawk in a fir tree.

They almost look like they could be buddies...

Mosckingbird and Red-Tailed Hawk perched together in a fir tree.

But the Mockingbird has a lot to say and the hawk just ignores it.

Mockingbird yelling at a Red-Tailed hawk perched in a fir tree.

This is the same hawk on a hunting trip.

Red-Tailed Hawk blending in with fall foliage.

This is his mate (female).

Red-tailed hawk perched at the top of a dead tree with fall foliage in the background.

At some point, the male caught a pigeon and they used this tree top as a kitchen table.

Red-tailed hawk plucking a pigeon while perched in the top of a tree.

Red-tailed hawk eating a pigeon.

This is a male in Brooklyn who I've been observing for several years. He is distinct as he doesn't have much of a belly band. 

Pale adult red-tailed hawk perched in a tree.

This is the Queens female (I don't have names for these guys).

Female red-tailed hawk perched on a bare branch.

Adult red-tailed hawk perched on a bare branch.

Adult female red-tailed hawk stretching her wings while perched on a bare branch.

Red-tailed ahwk takign off from a bare branch.

This is one of the resident hawks from Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. She's a beauty, displaying her perfect tail feathers.

Adult red-tailed hawk soaring across a blue sky with outspread wings and tail..

Hoping to see more hawks this fall as they migrate through the area.
 
 
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)