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According to news reports, this is the third coldest winter in NYC in recorded history.
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And it is not only taxing water birds to their limits, but apparently even some of the predatory birds, such as red tail hawks. CBS reports two rescued hawks currently being treated at the Wild Bird Fund, one for near starvation.
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This winter has of course been brutal for 2/3rds of the country. Apparently, at the Great Lakes which are nearly entirely frozen over, grebes and other water birds are having a very hard time surviving:
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While I don't like to know of any animal suffering, I can't claim to enjoy seeing the red tail hawks in Central Park.
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I don't actually seek the birds out, but am acutely aware of them almost every day at the Reservoir in Central Park.
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Whenever there is sudden explosion of wings and feathers making hasty retreat to the open water spot in front of the Reservoir fountain, I can be sure it is due to a red tail in the area.
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Sure enough, a slight tilt of head will nearly always reveal one or even two hawks flying slow, but focused low circles over the Reservoir.
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The other day, a hawk finally landed on a tree branch close to where I was standing and I was able to take a couple of photographs of him (or her) intently staring down at the few geese and ducks who remained clustered tightly together on the ice.
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While understandable why the mallards are so wary and terrified of the hawks, it's not clear why geese also react to them so quickly and fearfully. After all, geese are bigger than the red tails.
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But geese don't have talons and sharp beaks with which to defend themselves from a possible hawk attack and as such, seem to recognize the birds as a predator and threat.
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The normal diet of hawks are rodents, squirrels and pigeons. But, they also occasionally take out waterfowl. One park goer reported seeing a red tail grab and kill a female mallard last year.
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Fortunately, I have never witnessed this, but seeing the reaction of especially the mallards to the hawks, I have no doubts to the report. I especially worry for the little female wood duck at the Reservoir because of her diminutive size and the fact she is without a mate of flock. There are actually several red tails in the general area.
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Nevertheless, even the hawks appear to be having a rough time this winter in NY. A couple of birders have recently reported seeing red tail hawks prey on grackles and even tiny sparrows in the parks.
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But, speaking just for myself, while I respect the hawks' important role in nature and consider them pretty to look at, I so prefer not seeing them at all.
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The ducks and geese have it hard enough this winter. -- PCA
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