Hawk Cam Returns for Third Season

Screengrab by Christopher James/New York University The Hawk Cam view of a red-tailed hawk, believed to be Rosie, on Wednesday morning.

The Hawk Cam, which has chronicled the lives of red-tailed hawks in Washington Square Park since 2011, will return for a third season very soon. The stars of the reality raptor drama, believed to be last year’s couple, Rosie and Bobby, are currently warming three eggs on a nest situated on the 12th-floor window ledge of New York University’s president, John Sexton.

The camera is expected to go live in the coming days, John Beckman, the university’s spokesman, said on Wednesday. The university will be sponsoring this year’s broadcast, with equipment donated by The New York Times.

“We have been in touch with some of the stalwart members of the online community that have followed the hawks, and we’ll be working with them over the coming days to let the broader community of Hawk Cam watchers know when we are ready to start the streaming video, which should be soon,” Mr. Beckman said in an e-mail.

D. Bruce Yolton/Urban HawksThe installation of the camera at New York University on March 19

According to Mr. Beckman, the first egg was spotted “a few weeks ago” and the third appeared last week. The mother bird has been on the nest “pretty constantly,” he added. Typically, hatching begins 28 to 35 days after egg-laying, meaning that there could be a baby hawk in early April.

The first season of the Hawk Cam starred Bobby and his then-mate, Violet, who died in December 2011 following surgery to remove a necrotic foot, and their offspring, Pip.

Last January, Bobby mated with a new female, named Rosie for her feather coloring. The pair consummated their union atop a church cross and successfully incubated two baby hawks, who made their live debut in April. The young hawks, named Boo and Scout by readers, took their first flight at the end of May.

“We know people are eager for the Hawk Cam to resume, and we’re glad to be able to responsive,” added Mr. Beckman.

We’ll let you know when the camera is ready for prime time.

For coverage and updates, read D. Bruce Yolton’s Urban Hawks, rogerpaw.blogspot.com and follow @Rueby on Twitter.