“Hope is the thing with feathers,” wrote Emily Dickinson.
It certainly is for Michael Schnur, who wrote to the Rag, “just to let you know that the red tailed hawk has returned and established residency on the decorative stonefacing on 310 W 72nd Street. This is the fifth year, I believe. It is such a joy to watch the evolution of the hatchlings.”
Breeding season is the end of February through March, though there can be some variation, according to the Audubon Field Guide. “The birds are currently at the incubation stage, with both mom and dad keeping the eggs warm — though mom seems to be doing more of the heat work than dad is,” Michael wrote. “It is usually a little over a month before you see hatchling(s). Enjoy!”
Thanks, Michael!
This is great! I’ve been watching the pair for a few weeks. The female regularly roosts on scaffolding on 72nd St, near Riverside Blvd. Have seen the pair mating on that scaffolding a couple of times.
Wow could it be a sign?!
I adore hawks; whenever I see one wheeling across the lonely sky my heart skids to a stop for a moment- defining the word ineffable perfectly…
and, after 39 years on Amsterdam Ave., I’ve just applied to move into 310 W.72nd!
Gee I can only hope… and barely wait; be still my heart.
I see hawk-like birds on the roof of 175 West 76th Street. They’re not red-tailed hawks. They may not be hawks at all, but are beautiful to watch.
They may be Peregrine Falcons
There’s a gorgeous RTH that flies to the W 93-94th off Columbus area most days. It perches on bldg. tops; hoping for pigeon meal. Wishing it luck!! Would love to have a nest! Watch Cornell U. Ornithology lab webcam for RTH nest on campus – besotted with them. And let’s give a shout-out to Wild Birds Rehab Center on Columbus & 87th. ONLY one in the city, doing great work.
I know this is snarky and not really the point of the story, but where is Riverside Blvd?
According to Wikipedia, Riverside Drive is the curving “not-quite-a-boulevard” that runs from W. 72nd to W. 181st street (it becomes a true “boulevard” above W. 96th).
Because of its views of the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades it attracted the ultra-wealthy of The Gilded Age who built mansions on the street’s east side.
Wikipedia’s entry provides fascinating details, and a list of ‘famous names’ who call(ed) it home.
P.S.on its northern-most route, the MTA’s M5 runs along Riverside Drive and provides a look at the buildings of the wealthy-and/or-famous.
It’s the continuation of Riverside Drive south of 72nd… that’s where all those trump buildings are located, facing the West Side Highway and the Hudson.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/realestate/riverside-boulevard-a-parade-of-tall-buildings-with-amenities-galore.html
“…Residential plans for the area began in the 1970s with proposals from Donald Trump, none of which were executed; in 1994, Mr. Trump sold his controlling interest in the project to other investors…”
It’s the street west of Freedom Place
Nice to hear about the hawks coming back but also bittersweet because our friend Billy -the hawk man- is not here with us to see them.
Thank you for giving him a shout out. I miss seeing him in the Park. I always learned so much talking with him.