While on a girl's getaway in NY last week I was telling my friends about Pale Male, the yellow tail hawk featured on an hour long PBS documentary that lives in Central Park. As we left the Castle Belvedere, believe it or not, and within 30 minutes of this conversation, a huge, beautiful hawk (perhaps Pale himself?) swooped down in front of us and lighted on a nearby branch. He had a pigeon in his talons and sat on the branch for quite a while. I know this site is about shopping, site seeing, dining out, etc. But has anyone else seen Pale Male? It was the highlight of my trip!

No, I haven't (haven't even been to NY) but we did have a lovely view of a gray hawk in Costa Rica and that too was one of the highlights of the visit.

Hi gofsu:

I was walking thru the park this past summer and saw the same thing! Not sure if it was "THE HAWK", but it was having a fine Pidgeon meal on the lowest branch of the tree! It seem to be used to people watching and was not afraid! The area was on the lower path near the 59th street entrance, parallel to the Zoo( where the horse buggy's go)

Nice NYC nature experience!
JOHN

Pale Male's nest has been removed by the building management! Check out this website www.palemale.com

Believe it or not, the "eviction" of Pale Male and his girlfriend, Lola, is a big story in New York right now. Even Mary Tyler Moore joined the "protest" on 5th Avenue yesterday.

The building's board chairman, who allegedly spearheaded the eviction, is Paula Zahn's husband.

(Pale Male's nest was on the facade of an exclusive 5th Ave building, not in Central Park.)

I've heard two reasons for the eviction -- the nest was supposedly damaging the facade, and some residents didn't like the dead pigeons dropped on the sidewalk by Pale & Lola.

As Cindy Adams would say, Only in New York, kids, only in New York.

This is news beyond NYC -- an interview with MTM was on the local Boston news last night along with video footage of Pale's rather sloppy dining habits (for journalistic balance, I suppose). I must admit that, although I admire these birds, I wouldn't want their pigeon leftovers on the sidewalk in front of MY house!

I heard the real reason the hawks were evicted is the building's tenants don't want people across the street from their exclusive bldg with telescopes and binoculars. These people want their privacy and the hellwith the hawks.

Topping for orangetravelcat.

Sigh, we used to see those hawks. There were always people by the boat pond in Central Pk with cameras with super lenses, one guy let me look through his, straight to the birds on the side of the building. It is sad, but some say that the hawks can find plenty of places to nest again.

What about the peregrine falcons that were nesting on the office buildings? Anyone ever see them anymore?

NEWS ABOUT PALE MALE: He's here. But his nest has been taken down. New Yorkers are in an uproar and are taking action. This Sunday, at 12:00 noon, the Audubon Society is organizing a gathering to protest the removal of the nest at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 74th Street, in New York City. The famous pair of hawks, Pale Male and Lola, were evicted from their homes by the board of the luxury coop building in which they live. The president of the Board and the person most adamant about their eviction is Richard Cohen, who is the husband of CNN's Paula Zahn. Mary Tyler Moore lives in the building, was against the removal of the nest, and is angry about it. So am i.

All are welcome to join and are especially urged to contact the elected officials in New York to ask for their intervention. The Hawks are a symbol of New York's humanity; the residents of 927 Fifth Avenue who spearheaded the efforts to remove their dwelling are symbolic of human callousness and selfishness. Any form of protest that is legal is encouraged.

best wishes.

annie

Not to worry! Pale male has alredy started to build a new nest on another building up the street - where he is welcome.

Also, the public outcry against the nest removal has been so great that now the co-op board is totally embarrassed - and they have called the eviction a "mistake" - and said the hawks are welcome back.

I find it interesting that so many people here in NYC are getting involved with the Pale Male eviction. There will be a rally and candlelight vigil here tomorrow evening, so all of the "liberals" can show their outrage.

There are tens of thousands of homeless HUMAN BEINGS in NYC, who are aguably less capable of taking care of themselves than these hawks are.

But, of course they have no majesty or regalness about them, do they?

New York is truly an amazing place

cyberUK,

Why do you feel the need to insult people who care about animals? I take it by your tone that you consider "liberals" bad people?

Why not worry about the HUMAN BEINGS (sorry, collateral damage) that your feeble-minded president has killed for the noble cause of fattening his oil buddies' wallets??

Where is your outrage??

Hypocritical much???

I must say Vespers, that you misunderstood my posting.

How do you infer that am insulting to animal lovers, just because I mention that I find it interesting what is going on in NYC over the hawk situation.

I do still maintain that peoples efforts should be placed where they will do some good. These hawks will move to a different area, build a nest, mate and get on with their lives, with or without anyones help.

By the way "my" president had his election stolen from him by the conservative right.

I also will add that I was prepared to answer your posting that ended with
"or the south",
but Fodor's removed it before I could.

I am dismayed that I agreed with you, given that you seem a bit "off"

cyberUK,

I am sorry if I misunderstood; your quotations around liberals seemed to convey a certain "tone".

I think that it's great in a world where we as people are so consumed with our own needs that some take a break and care about another species.

Everyone is so sensitive these days, and I confess I have been drawn into the fray as well at times. My comment about the South was a joke, (with some truth).

Many times, when people are concerned and care a situation involving animals do some people find it necessary to point out the plight of humans?

We create our own mess, the animals are a casualty of our mess as well. The least we can do is help them out.

cyberUK - There are more than a few homeless people here in the UK, but there was quite a bit of fuss about Fox Hunting, no?

Hi Kate,

There is, I believe, quite a difference between the hunting of a species for sport, and this situation here in NYC.

That being said, the homeless citizens of the UK deserve at least as much concern as do the foxes, no?

This is, of course a travel site, so I'm sorry it seems to have become something else on this thread.

It was not really my intention to flame.

This discussion should end here.

Apologies to all

I'm so glad to hear Pale Male has started building another nest. I hope the protests draw huge crowds. If I still lived in NYC, I'd be there; but alas, I have been in Arizona for the last 24 years.