Zazu is hungry!
Upper West Sider Asli Bilgin recently sent us a note that raises an alarm for dog owners on the Upper West Side. There’s a hawk stalking local pups, and yours could be next!
The bird (a commenter says it’s actually a falcon) has been flying to her 22nd floor apartment with eyes on her chihuahua Miniko. West Side Rag has not independently verified the hawk-stalking, but the narrative that Bilgin sent is a a bona fide thriller! Read it below:
For the past week a fledgling hawk has been stalking my Chihuahua.
In my apartment.
On the 22nd floor.
Yes, stalking every day, in what can only be best described as drive-by flyings.
The first day, I was endeared. Immediately, I hopped on Amazon searching for “falconeer glove” and picturing myself as the female St. Francis of Assisi. What a great dinner party trick! We are laughing, having wine and then I casually stick my arm out the window and voila: “look guys, a hawk!” I pictured it crooning lovingly on my arm– us the perfect Disney couple. Asli & Zazu. Sigh.
At first, the drive-by flyings were entertaining. By the third day, reality started hitting in. Hm, this hawk stalking messes up my morning routine. You see, I like sticking my head out the window each morning to see what pedestrians are wearing and check the temperature on the Apple Bank. I don’t like sticking my head out the window and suddenly have a face full of feathers. (see photo).
On day four, I realized Zazu wasn’t seeking my friendship. Zazu wanted my cow-spotted Chihuahua. Curious, Miniko would come to the window seeing the flush of feathers. Curious, Zazu would come to the other side of window, seeing fur covered flesh. Now Zazu isn’t quite fully grown, so my Chihuahua definitely outweighs him by a good pound or two – at least she would until he ate her.
After five days with windows sealed shut and running the air conditioner, I’m wondering what next? I’ve emailed the Linnean Society for help.
I’m also still looking up falconeer gloves.
If the small dog owners of the Upper West Side haven’t figured out, this is a public safety notice. If you live near Broadway and 70th, keep your windows closed. Otherwise, you may have an unwelcome dinner guest who may want to snack on something other than your nice assortment of crudités.
Oddly enough, we have written before about dog-stalking hawks. have you encountered any hawk-stalking? Let us know in the comments.
Photos via Asli Bilgin.
There are hawks everywhere and fly-bys are common, especially in the Spring. This fellow or gal has a nest nearby and is simply protecting it! There is a nest in the 80’s that has 2 confirmed eyasses in the nest – sitting right on the fire escape – imagine that dinner scene…lol fear not, the babies will be fledging shortly and I know they prefer rat and pigeon over lovely puppy meat.
The bird in the photos is not a hawk.
It’s a kestrel, a small falcon about the size of a blue jay and definitely smaller than a chihuahua.
Re: #1’s “the babies will be fledging shortly and I know they prefer rat and pigeon over lovely puppy meat.”
YIKES! DARN! Something’s GOTTA be done! Me and me bruvvers are in mortal danger!
Where’s all the political candidates when ya needs ’em? Dat guy, errr… DeBlasio is tryin’ ta proteck Central Park carriage horses … but what about us cute furry critturs?
Guess it’s back to me subway tunnel!
Chikken wings and donutz, people … more Chikken wings and donutz !!!
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
Some may recall the old bottles of Iodine, bearing a “Here Be Poison and Death” Skull & Bones (although it was a favorite of certain Yale graduates). THEREFORE, assuming the hawks are not Yalies, why not paint a skull & bones on the dog. That should scare off any flying predators.
Or, to fend off the less well-read predators, dye the dog a disgusting non-Manhattan color, like pink or chartreuse. No self-respecting Manhattan-dweller would want to eat anything chartreuse.
More likely a juvenile sharp-shinned hawk (size of a jay) or Cooper’s hawk (size of a crow); check out this picture from the Cornell ornithology lab: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/sharp_shinned_hawk_18.jpg
my two cats usually go out to our terrace on 67th betw Colo and CPW. Fortunately I haven’t let them go out because of the brick workers climbing around our building.
But what to do? The cats are 12 pounds each!
First, the largest hawk in NYC, the red-tailed hawk, is incapable of picking up and carrying away anything larger than a rabbit–and wild rabbits aren’t that large. Second, the photos would indicate this is a falcon. I can guaran-darn-tee you a falcon can’t pick up even a small dog. Their primary prey is songbirds.
The photos of these 2 birds are so fake. Photoshop drama.
Impossible! American Kestrels are 9 inches high and DO NOT attack dogs. Falcons hunt by catching birds in mid-air, such as sparrows (pigeons are too big). Occasionally they catch mice, but a Chihuahua is too big and could easily kill a falcon.
A red-tailed hawk cannot hunt prey on a window sill, either. Hawks hunt by diving from the air to the ground, catching squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and sometimes birds. It is the speed and their talons that helps them to kill prey. Dogs weigh too much. If anyone wants to see what a hawk feeds on, just watch one of the live cam hawk nests.
Whether or not “they can” I just witnessed a red tailed hawk give it a try!!!
I live in a very populated condo complex and a hawk has started sitting and stalking my neighbors 5 pound poodle. Yesterday evening, while 6 of us watched the hawk swooped down and made an effort to get that dog! Not once but two times!!!!
Fortunately ours screams were enough to deter him. Unfortunately he isn’t giving up. He is still hanging around and waiting!
So he sure thinks its a done deal! Hopefully my next post isn’t showing you a video of how one couldnt possibly pick up my little pup . Please never say never!!
BTW I live in so cal in a condo compex- the bird was identified as a red tailed hawk by animal control this morning
I was out working in the back yard when I looked up and saw one then two red tail hawks circling overhead. I then remembered my to white chihuahua puppies were enjoying the weather. I looked over to see them sunbathing. The hawks seemed unfazed by my presence. I picked up the dogs and put them inside. I stepped back out and the birds were gone.
Jacksonville, NC
The bird just snatched at my dog in Central Park, near to 5th avenue and Central Park south, this afternoon. It got really close and almost got her. I screamed so loud everyone around got startled and saw it. I have a 14 pound Boston Terrier and I saw the Falcon around but thought it would never try to get my dog, that it was looking for rats. But it actually went for my dog and got way too close. I don’t know what to do, because it could have gotten her and hurt her really bad.