I just sent an Email to Emily Lloyd (Commissioner of Environmental protection) regards what's happened to the Houston Street hawks. I don't know if this was the proper office to receive my complaint but I felt I needed to do something. I look at your wonderful website every day. Please post what's happening with these babies!! Best,Connie ****************************************************** I have contacted you several times in the past. I wanted to tell you first I thoroughly enjoy your website. I also want to tell you I have called Animal Care and Control in New York City to voice my disgust at the situation with the Houston street baby hawks. I am sickened and sad about what has happened and I hope and pray that the third baby somehow makes it into a tree where he or she will be safe from those humans. I wish I could be there all the way from Austin, TX. just to keep a look out for when he/she does leave the nest. As I stated, I made a phone call to Animal Care and Control and the first person I spoke to was so rude. Quite embarrassing for that department to have some jackass with no sensitivity or people skills talking to people in a very unprofessional tone. He hung up on me because I obviously was asking way too many questions about the baby hawks. He purposefully misinformed me that they did not have the hawks or take the hawks. I said, “Well, I am looking at a photo of your department on the internet and that is how I got this phone number.” He yelled at me that they did not take the hawks and hung up. I called back and spoke to Terrance. Terrance was much more sincere and told me they did in fact take the birds and they were turned over to someone name Mike Pastoie. In the background, I could hear that same person who yelled at me being just as blatantly rude to someone else who was calling about the hawks. I am glad to know there are others who are calling. Terrance said lots of people were calling. Terrance forwarded my cell phone number and email to Mike P. I look forward to hearing from him and I will keep calling until the RIGHT thing is done! It is hideous they way they have handled this situation. I literally brings tears to my eyes. I hope God, the universe is looking out for these animals and that the third baby is not caught. I don’t understand why this is happening. How do all the other babies from other nests make it? Does this happen all the time? It is just so tragic especially after what happened to the three baby hawks that died because of the rat poison. This is 5 hawks now and it just sucks. I cannot stand it! I also want you to know I called Central Park Conservancy a couple weeks ago when you posted the pictures of the garbage. I had a long talk a supervisor over there and he stated they just don’t have the money or the manpower to keep up with all the trash and that they use a different kind of poison that what was posted on the website. Who knows if he is being honest, but I want you to know I totally back you and I am doing my part from Austin, TX. to speak up for the situation with the hawks. There are several nesting pairs close by where I live and because of you and your website and because of the magnificent Palemale and Lola I have grown to love these animals more and more. As a matter of fact, I was walking my dog around 8:30 p.m. last night (6-11) and I saw a Red Tail Hawk fly just slightly above the treeline and it had food in it’s talons. I felt sad for the little creature, but to see that majestic bird coasting by just put a huge smile on my face. I hope you will be there when the third baby leaves the nest and maybe your presence can somehow help it. You are not “bad luck” and they need you. You have made a global impact, Lincoln. I cannot tell you how many people know of Palemale and Lola and the other 26 nesting pairs inside Central Park. We say prayers for them and talk constantly about them. Someone recently told me they saw a special on PBS about Palemale and Lola. How cool is that!!!!! I would love to hear back from you. Peace and God bless those baby hawks!!!! Lisa M. Round Rock, TX. ******************************************************* Thank you. Thank you for sharing your beautiful images with the rest of the world. I check you site every day. I love your images. Photography has been a hobby of mine for over twenty five years, but I can't get any images as good as yours. I have been to the Flushing Meadow Park twice a week for the past month. I have shot the hawks, because I love them and I hope you will tell me what you use. I have a Canon 5D with the Canon 100-400 zoom. I also have the Canon 300mm f/2.8. I also have two extenders the 2x and the 1.4x. I think you probably have the 800mm. Please let me know. I know it powerful and fast. Your composition is heaven sent. Please keep up the fight. I have all my friends checking out your site and I order your book last week. Best of luck and thanks again for sharing your gifts. Jeff **************************************************** a responce from Animal Care & Control to Thrish S. Dear Ma’am: One of the baby hawks picked up on 6/8 was transported to a DEC licensed wildlife rehabilitator. The bird is in good condition and will probably be returned to the area. There is a lot of fallacious information regarding these birds. AC and C receive daily calls for raptors, and although we do not have sufficient staff to respond to all calls, we are usually the only agency that responds to these birds in need. We are more than happy when other responsible rescuers get involved, but that is not usually the case. We cannot leave these birds on the street, even if they are near their original nest because people will continue to call us or they may get hit by a car. Mike Pastore Director, Field Operations Animal Care and Control of NYC ******************************************************* You are truely a guardian of these remarkable raptors. Do not think for one second that you bring harm in any way. It is other humans who do not understand the ways of nature who bring harm. It has been so upsetting to read your website the past several weeks because of the choices that people make - not because of anything that you do. I do not understand either, but keep doing what you are doing. Your passion for the lives of these hawks is obvious. All of our lives - and especially the lives of these hawks is better because of you. Sincerely, Deb S. ******************************************************* 6/11/08: You must be a genius. I had an opportunity to take a walk to the park today and spoke with the chef in the parking lot. Can’t remember his name but a very nice guy. He told me, although you probably already know, they have changed their sanitation company to another which is environmentally friendly. This was a result in part or in full due to an order they received from CP/Conservancy don’t remember which that they must now compost all garbage. There are separate bins of trash for compost that will be picked up every night. The boat house has held staff meetings to educate the employees on how to do this and they have separate bins at each work station in the restaurant. I assume that Tavern on the Green received the same order. L&K Marcia ******************************************************