Brooklyn Fledge

My first stop in Prospect Park on my Friday hawk fledgling inspection was in the Ravine.

I'm always amazed at how quickly Red-tailed Hawk nestlings grow. From the only opening in the canopy where I can still see that nest, it appeared that I was looking at one juvenile and one adult. Then the "adult" turned around and I realized it was the second juvenile.

I watched the Ravine nest for about an hour. The one seated in the nest barely moved the entire time. Eventually, the one I had mistaken for an adult ventured way out on a limb at the south side of the nest. Out of view, I decided to climb down the ridge and check from the opposite side of Rocky Pass. My annual viewing spot from that side is now completely grown over and blocked from view. I heard a lot of squealing from one of the young hawks, but couldn't be certain if it was coming from the nest tree or if it had flown and was somewhere nearby. I tried a few other vantage points, but had no luck and headed over to Nelly's Lawn to check the trio at that nest.

When I was approaching Nelly's Lawn I noticed a woman standing near the tuliptree at the northwest edge of the meadow. She was staring up at "Nelly" on her favorite perch in "Elizabeth's Tuliptree". Her name was Devi and she is one of the Riverside Park hawk-watchers. She decided to come to Prospect Park to check out the family at Nelly's Lawn. At first, we spoke very briefly and continued watching Nelly. It was only after I had been looking for a few moments that I noticed one of the juveniles on the branch to mom's right! One of the trio had fledged, making the approximately 100 yard flight across the field from the nest tree. The other two young hawks were still climbing around on the branches beneath their nest.

Here is the young fledgling excitedly flapping away from its landing strip in Elizabeth's Tuliptree ("Look what I can do!"):


We had walked back across the grass to a spot below the nest to watch the other two for a while. At around noon, the eyass that had fledged suddenly flew back across the lawn and into the nest tree. She looked strong and confident, as if she had done it a few times before. The three then seemed content to spend the rest of their time preening and resting. When we left at around 1pm, they were still in the nest tree. If the other two haven't already made some short flights, they no doubt will be flying tomorrow.

Also, Marge reported to me today that the Green-Wood Cemetery pair look ready to leave the nest. I hope to get over to the cemetery tomorrow afternoon.