PaleMale and Lola are a famous pair of Red-tailed Hawks that live in downtown New York City. PaleMale and Lola nested on the 14th story of an upscale New York City apartment building for several years, producing many chicks. Hundreds of birdwatchers would watch in awe as the hawks sailed beneath the urban landscape. The pair hunted, nested, mated, and raised chicks before an audience of many thousands of people, whose days were lifted just by viewing the awesome raptors. Many believed that PaleMale and Lola represented a natural success story; that nature can survive, thrive, and be beautiful amidst the world's most modified environments.

On December 14, 2004, however, the nest, and the platform that held the nest, were removed from the building because the building's owner thought it was unsightly and messy. Although the hawks are protected by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, which makes harming a wide range of birds found in North America illegal, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruled the nest could be removed because at the time there were no chicks.

Immediately following the removal of the nest, wildlife enthusiasts from all parts of the world began an impassioned protest. They were incensed that that the nest was removed and that the building's owner could have such a blatant disregard for the hawks, and the happiness they provided for so many people. Thousands of letters poured into the mailboxes of local newspapers and tabloids. Dozens of people even established a vigil around the building. The building's owner and his famous wife were vilified by local media. Soon, the story of PaleMale and Lola became international news. The local Audubon Society and other nature groups began negotiating with the building's owner to re-assemble the platform which formerly held the nest. Then, three weeks after the nest was removed, the building's owner finally agreed to put the platform that held the nest back where it was. Almost immediately, the famous hawks began building another nest on the platform, to the delight of thousands of their fans.

You can visit the official site of PaleMale and Lola by clicking here.