Hawks are everywhere

From the Daily News:

A group of amateur bird watchers was treated to a spectacular air show last Sunday, courtesy of a hawk couple that calls Astoria home.

The red-tailed hawks, named Atlas and Andromeda by their faithful fans, soared through the air, snacked on a bird and fed their hungry chicks. The pair make their home along the side of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.

"Hawks exist all over the city, but many people just don't know they are there," said Urban Park Ranger Eric Handy, who led the program for the city Parks Department. "They are just a beautiful sight to see."

They are also a natural form of rodent control, feasting on rats and mice.

With the help of a spotting scope, participants were able to get a bird's-eye view of the feathered couple as they went about their daily business.

While many New Yorkers may only be familiar with the city's omnipresent pigeon and sparrow population, the five boroughs are full of wildlife. Red-tailed hawks and falcons make their nests among buildings, trees and other tall structures, including bridges and even the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.