Donna's Field Notes

Field Notes 6-23-05
Trump Parc Nest

Sunset 8:33PM (NYT),
Temp. 77F,
Humidity 39%,
Wind WSW 6MPH,
UV very high,
Fair,
Prey Tally-pigeon, small rat.

All times PM unless otherwise noted.
Observations from Little Hill.
6:27 Charlotte on nest standing head to wall near
edge.  Eyass head visible under her breast, sheltering
in shadow, all pant. Pale Male Jr. ?
6:34 Eyass comes out from under Charlotte to slightly
N of her, remains visible.
6:37 Charlotte beak down, preening motions, eyass
being preened, jerks up into sight.
6:45 Charlotte mantles.
6:50 Eyasses out of sight.
6:52 Charlotte center, eyass visible half way to wall,
on N side.
6:55 Charlotte stares at Little Hill, then surveys
park.
6:58 Dark purplish Butterfly with grey edge, top of
wing, flutters around Little Hill.
7:03 Eyass back under Charlotte.
7:12 Charlotte very alert to NW Park.
7:18 Charlotte preens.
7:19 Charlotte preens eyass' back, she flops her wings
and lurches up.
7:20 Charlotte Alert, scans all areas.
7:29 Junior flies in from the Park to behind
scaffolding then ?.

Observations from apartment window, 35th floor, on the
same wall and same level as nest, approx. twenty feet
away.
7:59 Charlotte W center of nest, eyasses both in
broadest section of corbel, looking around some inches
from each other.
8:00 Charlotte looks at us, registers, goes back to
tending eyasses, no negative response.
8:01 Junior to N edge of nest carrying small rat in
his beak, eyasses make cheep, cheep,cheep
vocalizations.  Charlotte makes a two toned quiet
staccato sound with a full beat in  between them.
Junior gives small rat to eyass on N side of nest,
beak to beak. Junior looks at us, registers. Looks at
eyasses. Junior off nest.  Eyass attempts to swallow
rat whole, much swallowing on the eyasses part but the
rat no longer is moving down her throat. Pause.
Charlotte pulls the rat out of the eyass and places it
in front of eyass.  During this activity, the second
eyass is facing S, with neck compressed.  First eyass
beaks rat but no progress, some uncoordinated attempts
at using feet, doesn't have puncture/rip move.
Charlotte waits.  Charlotte takes rat, holds it down
with her talons and prepares prey. First bite to eyass
one , second bite to eyass two, who has turned around
but not moved forward when Charlotte began ripping
prey. Eyass one then gets three or four bites, eyass
two moves toward Charlotte for bites.
8:06 Leave window.
Observation from Little Hill
8:18 Eyasses crawl under Charlotte.
8:26 Charlotte on nest S of center.
8:34 Exit.
Submitted-Donna Browne