Photo: Pat Dorfman
April 27, 2012 Staff Report
A young red-tailed hawk was spotted perched on top of a Skillman Ave. street light (45th and 46th streets) at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Birdwatchers who were looking said that they have seen others in the area in recent times.
Photo: Pat Dorfman
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i live on greenpoint and 42nd and hawks have been landing on my fire escape for a few years. the red tailed hawk appears mostly in the winter usually when it snows, and sometimes it just sits there a while and poses for pictures.
One has landed on the outside portion of my window air conditioning unit twice in the last 2 years. The first time, my cat and I were in the living room when the hawk landed with a thud on the air conditioner. My cat crouched down in pounce mode, excited at the potential new prey. The hawk looked at him sideways and a few second later my cat realized that the tables had turned and that he was in fact the potential meal. Cat quickly turned and hightailed it out of the living room, lest the hawk find some way to break the window and grab a feline snack.
Raptors are cool.
A local store owner told me that a lunatic tenant in his building on Skillman captured an eagle which had nested in on the building, and was trying to sell it to him. The store owner said that he then heard that he must have tried to sell it to someone who reported it, and the eagle was taken away. I do not know if this is true, and if the bird was a hawk, not an eagle.
Red tails: I was told by a “birder” (the term for those who think about birds more than the rest of us) that the tail becomes more red over time. This one on Skillman is a younger hawk.
Other neighborhood birds-of-prey buzz is that a mother and child rt hawk are nesting somewhere on Queen of Angels Church and recently someone saw one of them on the top of the cross.
@ oppressed masses…yes its true…u r an imbecile. im hoping the hawks reduce the feral cat problem in sunnyside!
They aren’t just Dixieland Delights, are they? :o)
@ Oppressed Masses, I see flippant racism is alive and well.
Maybe that hawk can hunt down the flock of pigeons that have taken over the real estate agency on that block. Those things have turned the pavement white with their guano. So disgusting.
An unfortunate consequence of the wonderful return of this raptor to our neighborhood is the adverse impact on the supply of stock used by the local asian eateries that may cause an increase in price.
Raquel: Oh I think these hawks would take care of a mugger well enough! Even a small parakeet can inflict enough pain that you’ll let him go if you’ve grabbed him. So a hawk is likely to be able to poke that guy’s eyes out.
I think it’s great. There will be enough pigeons to go around.
I have liked pigeons, despite the mess they leave, once I heard they were cliff dwelling doves. I admire their ability to adapt to city life. But to those who can’t bear them, the hawks must be a welcome addition to the local food chain.
Oh, now I understand why I have been seeing bird parts on the sidewalk! Yuk! I saw a solitary wing once and couldn’t figure it out.
@ Joe Schmuckley
Did you get pics or vids of that?
I saw a neatly severed pigeon wing on the sidewalk recently. Guarantee you it was a hawk that was responsible.
Yep, had one on my fire escape as well…between Queens Blvd and Greenpoint. Very cool actually. Was rippin the hell out of a pigeon. Now THAT is reason enough to keep them breeding.
can someone train them to attack midday armed robbers. maybe the 108 can?
I hope she doesn’t get mugged or taken or taken to an ATM!
Heard a thump on my window a few months ago. Looked outside and a slightly dazed baby red tail was on the fire escape. I guess even a hawk-eye doesn’t see too well.
Great spot news reporting, Pat! I had one roosting on my air conditioner for a few nights several winters ago. He/She was real entertainment at my Christmas Party. I didn’t get any pictures but some of my neighbors tell me they did. I love the return of nature to the city. I’m keeping my little dog on his leash from now on!
We have seen it several weeks ago. On Fire scape. Is beautiful. N around the neighborhood between 40- 45 streets. N my kids at ps 150 said it was on the school yard yest. Gorgeous !!!
I lived on Skillman and 43rd from 2007 until last year, and in that time we had 3 visits from a red tailed hawk. Each time it would sit on our fire escape for anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. I got some great photos.
I’ve had one on my fire escape in Celtic Park. scared the hell out of me at first. They look fierce up close. They can eat all the pigeons and squirrels they want as far as I’m concerned.