Hawk swoops in as new Exhibit A against Washington Square rehab
Attorney Joel Kupferman said that after recently reading in The Villagers Scoopys Notebook about the new red-tailed hawk in Washington Square Park, opponents will file an environmental lawsuit against the Parks Departments embattled $16 million park renovation plan.
Kupferman said that among plaintiffs he will be representing on the lawsuit is the Emergency Coalition to Save Washington Square Park, or ECO.
The presence of the hawk, Kupferman said, shows Theres life there. Theres bird life. Because of the large, broad-leafed trees that are there, birds are attracted to that park. Trees will be removed [under the renovation] to relocate the fountain, and it will also harm the [trees] root system.
A previous Eco lawsuit opposed the renovation in part for its disruptive effect on the parks wildlife, including squirrels.
Dave Lawrence, manager of the parks small dog run, said he showed a photo of the red-tail to a hawk expert, who told him it is a juvenile male.