A few months ago, we did a few posts on birds and mentioned nest cams. Nest cams are video cameras that broadcast live images of birds nests to the web; this spring, you could use those cameras to watch birds in the wild and maybe even watch a baby bird hatch.
Since writing that post, I stumbled onto three books about Pale Male, an avian celebrity here in New York. These books and the related resources could be used to supplement your study of birds, animal families, urban wildlife, and much more!
Some background information, first. Pale Male is a red-tailed hawk who has lived across the street from Central Park at 927 Fifth Avenue since he hatched in 1990 (with some dramatic interruptions). In 2004, the nest he and his then partner, Lola, lived in was taken down by the building owner but ultimately restored. Pale Male had long been a favorite with bird watchers who followed his every move, but the controversy stirred by the nest removal transported Pale Male into the national spotlight.
Soon thereafter, three different children’s book were written about Pale Male. The Tale of Pale Male by Jeanette Winter presents the simple facts about Pale Male and his home. City Hawk: the Story of Pale Male by Meghan McCarthy features whimsical illustrations and a simple story; some proceeds from the sale of this book go to supporting New York City Audubon Society. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman tells the story through beautiful illustrations and has a more sophisticated and humorous tone, but is still kid-friendly. Which will you like most? Click on each image to find links to a local library, and check each one out for yourself!
In addition to the children’s books, Pale Male has attracted quite a media following over the years (try a search for Pale Male on the internet and look at what springs up!). There are at least two movies: a Nature documentary from PBS entitled Pale Male and a 2009 feature documentary, The Legend of Pale Male. The New York Times writes updates about Pale Male once or twice a year and there are lots of other internet sites devoted entirely to this particular red-tailed hawk.
A word to the wise: Pale Male has been through a few mates since he arrived in NYC, with a certain amount of tragedy attached to each female. At the time the books, his mate was Lola. Lola has disappeared (and is presumed dead). Pale Male has a new mate, Lima.
Final notes, if you are looking for photos of Pale Male, check out his very own dedicated website, www.palemale.com, which is regularly updated and goes all the way back to 2002. And there is also an adult book, Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park by Marie Winn, for your own interest.
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