Res. No. 731
Resolution opposing the removal of the nest of the famous red-tailed hawk, the Pale Male, from the building at 927 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.
By Council Members Vallone, Jr., Reyna, Brewer, Gennaro, James, Liu, Martinez, Nelson, Weprin and Quinn
Whereas, Red-tailed hawks are part of the Accipitridae family, which includes hawks, eagles, kites and Old World vultures; and
Whereas, Red-tailed hawks are of the Buteo jamaicensis genus within the Accipitridae family and are generally large stocky birds with long, broad wings and short, broad tails that are found throughout North America, Central America and the Caribbean, excluding the very northern parts of Canada and Alaska; and
Whereas, Red-tailed hawks are carnivores and are considered to be the ultimate generalists because they can live in diverse habitats and eat equally diverse types of prey, such as rodents, snakes, lizards, rabbits, small birds, fish and large insects; and
Whereas, Recently, the real estate firm Brown Harris Stevens, at the request of the co-op board of 927 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, removed the nest of the famous red-tailed hawk, the Pale Male, from the 12th floor of 927 Fifth Avenue, where it had been perched since 1993, claiming that it was a hazard that probably violated City regulations; and
Whereas, The action of the co-op board of 927 Fifth Avenue are selfish and cruel and violate a trust held by them on behalf of all New Yorkers; and
Whereas, Many bird watchers regularly flocked to Central Park for a glimpse of the famous red-tailed hawk who has been chronicled in a television documentary and a book entitled, “Red-Tails in Love;” and
Whereas, Community residents have held candlelight vigils in front of 927 Fifth Avenue to protest the removal of the red-tailed hawk, urge building management to restore the nest, and ask Mayor Bloomberg and New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer to intervene with respect to Pale Male’s removal; and
Whereas, The existence of red-tailed hawks greatly increases the quality of life for all New Yorkers and therefore every action should be taken to increase the number of red-tailed hawks and no action should be taken to harm these beautiful birds or to drive them away from New York City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York opposes the removal of the nest of the famous red-tailed hawk, the Pale Male, from the building at 927 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan.
LS# 2198
RA
12/10/2004
H:/word/resolutions/Vallone, Jr/ls#2198