The Tale of Pale Male by Jeanette Winter Page A

New York City, there's no nest like home.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE
    Pale Male, a Red-tailed Hawk so named because of his paler-than-usual coloring, was first sighted in New York City in 1991. After a few unsuccessful attempts at building a nest in Central Park, in 1993 he and his mate settled on a perch atop 927 Fifth Avenue, a twelve-story apartment just across the street. This was the first time Red-tailed Hawks had nested in Manhattan, and devoted bird lovers kept track of their every move.

    Over the years Pale Male has had several mates—First Love, Chocolate, Blue, and Lola—and since 1995 he has fathered more than twenty chicks.

    The removal of the eight-foot-wide nest and the pigeon spikes on December 7, 2004, galvanized bird lovers everywhere, but especially in New York City. The persistence of their protests led to negotiations with the board of the apartment building, which resulted in replacement of the pigeon spikes. Pale Male and Lola returned to build a new nest, and as of spring 2006, the hawks were still in residence there. But even if they move to another building, the hope is that they will continue to raise New York City chicks.

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