The City Birder

Looking for a young hawk in Prospect Park

I received the following e-mail from Peter Dorosh on Friday:

"Went to investigate a [Red-tailed Hawk] on the ground in the middle of a huge kids day camp by the Picnic House. [It was at the] field/knob due Northeast (Long Meadow), in the picnic area or oaks knob. Got there, the bird was on a low oak branch. Immature. Appears to be a fledgling--constantly opening its mouth while on the branch. Urban Park Ranger was called in but with bird on low branch couldn't do much. Told her that it appears to be a fledgling, inexperienced or curious about kids. No friends to play with ?"

I took a walk with my wife to see if we could locate him. I assume that its one of the young hawks from the nest in the Ravine pine tree. He's gotten bold and ventured out of the protection of the Ravine woods and across the field. I understand the attraction. That stretch of trees is in the middle of a picnic area and is loaded with human habituated, unwary squirrels.

We didn't locate any young Red-tailed Hawks on our short walk but heard a few Red-eyed Vireo, Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole. A small flock of Cedar Waxwing were hawking for insects in the Pickerel Weed at the back of the Upper Pool. Purple Irises are also in bloom around the pond.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) behind the Upper Pool