Mike Silber reported today the return of the Swainsons Hawk likely in its 4th year gracing the Sims Recycling plant along 1st avenue by 32th?
According to Casey Ferio there,the vagrant hawk is perched on a building,a grayish structure with girders at the northwest corner,seen from 29th St and 2nd avenue.
See reports below
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1)
- Reported Feb 17, 2026 13:49 by jules w
- Sims Municipal Recycling (restricted access), Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S3
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "tall but slender guy reported by michael & casey 🫶🏻 winter rarity returning several years in a row apparently! in a standoff with the RTHA…friends? lovers? foes? perhaps all of the above? been there. or maybe they both just love to recycle. terrible pics but promise hes there :) two neighborhood lifers in one day woohoo!!!"
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1)
- Reported Feb 17, 2026 12:51 by Casey Ferio
- Sims Municipal Recycling (restricted access), Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S3
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "***returning mega, found again by Michael Silber from inside Greenwood Cemetery for the fourth straight winter - accounting for all four Brooklyn records. Michael had recently mentioned that this bird appears on or within a few days of the same date, and that said date was approaching. When I arrived the bird was atop its rightful throne, a gray girdered building at the back of the recycling station, providing a very different impression than that of the red-tailed hawk perched nearby - a large but very slim, falconine Buteo, with very long primaries projecting to or beyond the tail. Slightly smaller than the red-tailed hawk nearby. The recycling center was verrrry busy, so I was careful not to overstay my welcome, but I did put the scope on it to appreciate its plumage, even though it was facing straight away from me - now a full-on adult after showing up as a first winter juvenile, it has a nice rufousy wash on the mantle and a bright white patch at the base of the bill. Returning rarities are a special joy, but considering this species winters in the tropics and beyond, this one is particularly improbable - why is it so intent on returning to the same building? Where is it going during the summer? Ahhh, somebody put a GPS tag on this bird. I love the Brooklyn Swainson’s hawk, but I question all of its life choices. FYI - in prior years employees at the recycling center have been very amicable towards birders, and knew the name of the bird everyone was coming to see. Please be mindful when visiting this location - it’s a very active zone with lots of trucks coming in and out, make sure you aren’t blocking anybody if you park a car and don’t go beyond the Freshdirect crossdock. Photos"
- Reported Feb 17, 2026 13:49 by jules w
- Sims Municipal Recycling (restricted access), Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S3
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "tall but slender guy reported by michael & casey 🫶🏻 winter rarity returning several years in a row apparently! in a standoff with the RTHA…friends? lovers? foes? perhaps all of the above? been there. or maybe they both just love to recycle. terrible pics but promise hes there :) two neighborhood lifers in one day woohoo!!!"
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (1)
- Reported Feb 17, 2026 12:51 by Casey Ferio
- Sims Municipal Recycling (restricted access), Kings, New York
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S3
- Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "***returning mega, found again by Michael Silber from inside Greenwood Cemetery for the fourth straight winter - accounting for all four Brooklyn records. Michael had recently mentioned that this bird appears on or within a few days of the same date, and that said date was approaching. When I arrived the bird was atop its rightful throne, a gray girdered building at the back of the recycling station, providing a very different impression than that of the red-tailed hawk perched nearby - a large but very slim, falconine Buteo, with very long primaries projecting to or beyond the tail. Slightly smaller than the red-tailed hawk nearby. The recycling center was verrrry busy, so I was careful not to overstay my welcome, but I did put the scope on it to appreciate its plumage, even though it was facing straight away from me - now a full-on adult after showing up as a first winter juvenile, it has a nice rufousy wash on the mantle and a bright white patch at the base of the bill. Returning rarities are a special joy, but considering this species winters in the tropics and beyond, this one is particularly improbable - why is it so intent on returning to the same building? Where is it going during the summer? Ahhh, somebody put a GPS tag on this bird. I love the Brooklyn Swainson’s hawk, but I question all of its life choices. FYI - in prior years employees at the recycling center have been very amicable towards birders, and knew the name of the bird everyone was coming to see. Please be mindful when visiting this location - it’s a very active zone with lots of trucks coming in and out, make sure you aren’t blocking anybody if you park a car and don’t go beyond the Freshdirect crossdock. Photos"
"How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!"
-- Thomas Wentworth Higginson
