The New York Sun
December 8, 2004
New York Desk: Manhattan
Fifth Avenue Hawk Loses Nest
A
red-tailed hawk lost his nest on Fifth Avenue yesterday while he was out
hunting for mice, squirrel, pigeons, and other varmint in Central Park, authorities
said. Bird-watchers mourned the loss of what they considered to be a potent
symbol of splendor in the city. The bird of prey, affectionately known as
Pale Male, has lived in the 843-acre park since at least 1994, when he was
first spotted raising his fledgling from a nest perched on a window pediment
on the top floor of a Fifth Avenue apartment building. The nest, at 927 Fifth
Ave. between 73rd and 74th streets and made from a thicket of twigs, leaves,
and city grime, disappeared yesterday and was noticed by one of Pale Male's
flock of admirers - human bird watchers who, like so many paparazzi, have
helped make the hawk the most famous bird of its kind and the subject of
books, documentary films, and news articles. It is unclear whether the nest
was stolen or simply removed temporarily. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of
1918 makes it a federal crime to remove a migratory bird's nest. Pale Male
was last seen on Sunday bringing twigs to his nest.
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