7/3, Cathedral Fledge Doing Well

Hawk rehabilitator Bobby Horvath reports that the lead-poisoned female red-tail fledgling from the Cathedral of St. John seems to be doing well, although her lame right foot remains problematic. He wrote this afternoon that, "The Cathedral bird is strong, eats well and at times stands on the bad foot 'normally' but it is infrequent."

Bobby has also been charged with the several Houston St. red-tailed hawks who have had so much trouble. The father and the one of the fledglings have died of frounce; another fledgling in his care is hanging in there but remains touch and go. The eldest Houston fledgling was released last week in Astoria Park before the symptoms appeared but is now showing symptoms, too. Hawkwatchers are trying to re-capture it so that it may be treated. Although the hawks in rehab are kept apart, the Cathedral fledgling is receiving frounce medication "to be on the safe side".

Meanwhile, the most recent sighting I've seen reported of the other Cathedral red-tail fledgling was on Sunday. James saw it then in the trees along the 110th St. edge of Central Park.

7/1, North Woods Raccoon

Another hour's fruitless walk looking for the cathedral red-tailed hawk fledgling on Tuesday evening. A great egret was again fishing in the Morningside Park pond, but otherwise little of interest in that park.

Over in Central Park's North Woods, as I was chatting with a dogwalker, one of his dogs flushed a young raccoon up a tree not far from the Block House.

Even after the dogs were gone, the raccoon looked like it was going to stay put until I vacated also.

6/27, A Quiet Hour's Walk

WIth the healthy cathedral red-tailed hawk fledgling having made its way over to Central Park last Wednesday, hawkwatching in the Morningside area suddenly got a whole lot harder. Much more territory to cover, and no idea where to start unless you catch a glimpse of one the parents flying by.

An hour's walk on Friday in Morningside Park and the North Woods-Great Hill corner of Central Park did not reveal the hawkling. All that was notable was a great egret visiting the Morningside Park pond.

Fishing as intently as egrets always do.

The pond's Canada goslings are beginning to look like teenagers: close to full-size but looking like they were just woken up from a nap. But I'll have to keep a close eye on them, as it seemed that their first long wing feathers were coming in oddly, like a couple of the 2006 goslings and at least one of which never was able to fly.