You’ll have to keep watching to find out. It was probably a Red-tailed Hawk, many of which spend the winter around here. I’ve seen one hanging around my neighborhood, and several almost any time I go to the Park; yesterday there were four circling the Meer at one time, and while watching them we saw a couple of Osprey passing over much higher up. Some of these birds are beginning to move north, and there will be more coming through, so it’s hard to know what’s happening right now, but it’s certainly possible you have a resident bird there, or at least one that’s trying to set up a territory and attract a mate. This is not always easy, but Red-tails are quite adaptable and making inroads as urban residents. The famous birds on 5th Ave at 73rd St are presently incubating; the male has been there for over ten years now. There’ve been a couple of other nesting attempts in the Park lately, so far with inconclusive results. Birds seen high up and heading north (in spring) are probably migrating through; if you see them perching or hunting around the neighborhood they may be thinking about staying, though most will eventually bail out. If you’re still seeing it in May you’ve probably got a local.
|
- alex 3-21-2004 9:15 pm