As soon as I walked toward Central Park during lunch today I saw one of my office's local red-tailed hawks swoop off Bergdorf Goodman department store in hot pursuit of pigeons. It soared and hunted above The Plaza Hotel, Bergdorf's, and the area where horse-drawn carriage riders mount and dismount across the street.
I did not see it catch anything or make a true effort to do so. It seemed to be having a fine time soaring in the open sky rather than dive at any creature for a meal. I lost track of it when it soared a final time over the Plaza. The pigeons were understandably nervous and were flying in random, panicked patterns.
First photo I could snap:
Spot the hawk:
Flying past Bergdorf Goodman's festive windows:
Gargoyle looking on:
Taller building is the Solow Building at 9 West 57th Street. The rounded building is part of the Plaza:
The hawk flew over the Plaza and out of sight for the remainder of my stay:
The pigeons were still too nervous to resume their cavorting. The Crown Building at 730 5th Avenue is in the background:
Solow Building and The Plaza:
The only bird of prey I saw for the rest of my visit was an eagle in Bergdorf Goodman's Christmas window display:
