Hawks Evicted From New York City Perch

1 hour, 36 minutes ago

By RICHARD PYLE, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Pale Male the city hawk was evicted from his nest, and the
flap has already begun. So said aggrieved bird-watchers and neighbors
after workmen raised a scaffold to the top of a Manhattan apartment
Tuesday and ripped out the famous red-tailed hawk's nest.

The act appeared to end an urban drama that has fascinated
bird-watchers 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 over Fifth Avenue.

The hawks also achieved a measure of world fame, through television
specials and a book, "Red-Tails in Love." On summer weekends, crowds
have gathered at the Central Park boat pond to observe them.

"I am outraged," said a teary-eyed Jane Corin, who lives across the
street. "That building has been very good about this until now. It's
heartbreaking."

Pale Male - so named for his whitish plumage - and his mate, Lola, were
nowhere to be seen as the nest was removed, nor were any of their latest
offspring.

"The hawks will come back and find the nest is gone," said bird
hobbyist Lincoln Karim, an engineer at Associated Press Television News
who in summer often lets people view the birds through his giant
telephoto camera. "How could these people do this?"

City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benape said he was consulting with state
officials to determine who removed the nest and whether any law or
regulation had been broken. Red-tailed hawks are not legally protected,
he said but the loss of the birds would hurt because "they limit the
rodent population in an area where natural predators were absent for a
long time."

A doorman at the building said it was managed by Brown Harris Stevens,
a prominent Manhattan real estate firm. At the company office, an
employee declined to comment.
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On the Net:

Pale Male site: http://www.palemale.com/ 
NYC Audubon Society: http://www.nycas.org/