City Hawk Evicted From Fifth Avenue Nest

[KamaAina]

Yup, it's Pale Male, the one you've seen on PBS, about to join the ranks of NYC's homeless:

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_343064353.html

So said aggrieved bird-watchers and neighbors after workmen -- under cover of a dismally rainy day when almost no one was looking -- raised a scaffold to the top of a Fifth Avenue apartment house, ripped out the famous red-tailed hawk's nest and carted it off in a van.

The act appeared to end an urban drama that has fascinated long-time bird-watchers and recruited many more to their ranks over the past nine years, as Pale Male and a succession of mates raised 25 chicks -- the last trio of fledglings last June -- on the narrow 12th floor ledge....

Karim said that as recently as Sunday, he had seen Pale Male and Lola bringing new twigs to their nest. "As far as I'm concerned that's an active nest," he said.

The nest, the 10th built by Pale Male and his mates over the years, was draped over an arched cornice and anchored by spikes originally intended to discourage pigeons. The workers removed those along with the nest, Karim said.

Isn't that just like a bunch of filthy rich landlords?

And the kicker, from the New York Times article (registration :grr: )

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/08/nyregion/08hawk.html?ex=1103173200&en=56c53505be7ac9b4&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1

Ms. Winn said the federal Fish and Wildlife Service ruled in the 1990's that the nest was covered by a treaty adopted in 1918 to protect migratory bird habitats and could not be destroyed.

But she said that more recent interpretations of the federal rules may allow people to interfere with migratory bird nests if they do so in the winter, when the nests are not used to raise offspring. Phone messages left for officials at the agency late yesterday were not answered.

"More recent interpretations"?! Like when? Like after Selection 2000?! :grr: :argh: :nuke:

I thought Bush** liked hawks... (sigh)

edit: Fifth not Fith; italics

[indigobusiness]

1. He'll be back.

Ooh, the stink this will raise....

[Zero Gravitas]

2. Bummer

What assholes! Why can't they just leave the nest alone.

If Noo Yawkers want to see Red Tails theys should come out here to Kansas (its in the Interior, part of "Fly Over Land") Red Tails are everywhere this time of year.

[Sequoia]

3. Quick, someone needs to get Jon Stewart and

Dave Letterman on the story. The whole world will know then!

[MsUSA]

4. Keith O too would be interested in this story.

[KamaAina]

5. Hawk update: Guess whose husband runs the co-op??

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/260370p-222958c.html

The co-op board, which sources say is headed by developer Richard Cohen, husband of CNN newswoman (sic) Paula Zahn, contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which said the co-op could get rid of the nest as long as there were no chicks or eggs inside.

Neither Cohen nor Zahn could be reached for comment.

As for the Fish and Wildife "service", here's the 411 from the Times article (registration):

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/09/nyregion/09hawk.html

Until recently, the nest was protected by a federal treaty, first enacted in 1918 and administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, which prevented the destruction of nests in migratory bird habitats. But Terri Edwards, a spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service, said yesterday that the agency had issued a clarification of the rules in 2003 that allows the destruction of migratory bird nests if it is done during a season when the nests are not being used to hatch or raise offspring.

2003, huh? Looks like another example of how much Bush** loves thuh 'mvirommint... </sarcasm>

[Coventina]

6. WHAT FUCKING ASSHOLES!!!!!!

This really pisses me off!

I would be THRILLED TO PIECES if Pale Male decided to nest on my balcony.

I HATE FUCKING RICH PEOPLE----THEY THINK THIS WHOLE WORLD IS THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY!!!!


*Coventina stomps off to oil some guillotines*

[DireStrike]

7. I was upstate and saw a Red Tailed hawk up close.

She was called Threebee, for BBB (bad, biting bird.) A neighbor of my grandparents, Barbara Cole, is a wildlife rehabber. She had several other Redtails, but my cousin had been handling Threebee and Barbara let him bring her out to show us.

Such a beautiful creature. Her eyes... eyes like a hawk, I guess... lol. So intense.

If you move the perch underneath, their neck swings and their head stays in the same spot. My cousin moved his arm back and forth a bit, but her head didn't move at all. Just her body. It's cool to watch.

I don't remember if Threebee was releaseable. I think she was.

Why on earth would someone want to destroy the birds' nest?

[MadHound]

8. Saw some more about this on NBC last night

And the tenants apparently are quite saddened, they interviewed Mart Tyler Moore who lives in this building and she was quite grief stricken.

As a follow up note, they added that the hawk was seen returning to the building with twigs in his mouth, in order to build another nest. Apparently despite being evicted, he likes Central Park, and the view.

[Jurgis]

9. Just wait till ...

the pigeons move back in and take over the Red-tails' turf. Instead of a few carcasses on the sidewalk, there'll be pigeon shit dropping from the ledge onto pedestrians below.