Press Release about Pale Male & Lola's eggs from NYC Audubon

The long-awaited press release. I'll discuss some of these findings in my next posting here. Right now let me point out the significance of the fact that the eggs were found to be "intact". This clears up the possibility that the anti-pigeon spikes damaged the eggs during any phase of incubation.

Pale Male and Lola’s Egg Analysis

On June 13^th 2006, Chris Nadareski, Director of Wildlife Studies for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and building management, retrieved three intact eggs from Pale Male and Lola’s nest on Fifth Avenue. The red- tailed hawk eggs were taken for examination by DEC staff to Ward Stone, DEC’s wildlife pathologist. The examination revealed no sign of embryonic development in the eggs, which indicates the eggs never passed the early stages of development. The eggs were sent out for toxicant analysis, which found very low traces of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs, no significant levels of metals such as mercury and lead, and no anticoagulant rat and mouse poisons were found, suggesting that these chemicals did not pose a threat to the proper development of the eggs. The organochlorine and metal analyses were done by Pace Analytical Services, Inc. of Wisconsin and the rodenticides by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

In December 2004, Pale Male and Lola’s story captured the attention of the world when the Co-op Board removed their nest. People from around the city and around the world wrote letters and emails, made phone calls, and stood out in the cold asking for the building to “bring back the nest.” NYC Audubon led the efforts of many groups and individuals in successfully advocating for the return of Pale Male and Lola’s nest spikes to the window ledge. NYSDEC, NYCDEP, and the building staff and management worked to get a new and improved nest cradle structure to address the needs of the birds and the concerns of building management.

After an unsuccessful nesting last year, the hopes of New Yorkers were high that this year would produce a new brood of nestling hawks. Despite the egg analysis, it remains unclear why the nesting pair has failed; fertility and/or weather may have played a role. It is not uncommon for raptor nests to fail occasionally after many years of success.

Energized by Pale Male and Lola and their many supporters, NYC Audubon continues to carry out its mission of bird conservation. Today, through its Lights Out NY program, building owners are turning off decorative lights to protect migrating birds. NYC Audubon’s advocacy on behalf of Pale Male and Lola has shown New Yorkers that it is essential to have an organization that protects the wild birds and wild lands of the city from neglect and threats.

New York City Audubon is a grassroots community that works for the protection of wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

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