Watch Live: NYU Hawk Eggs Start Hatching In West Village Nest

WEST VILLAGE, NY — New York University's local hawk couple are getting ready to welcome some new kids to the neighborhood.

Bird watchers have spotted the first cracks in one of the eggs of the hawk couple's nest, meaning that some new baby hawks, known as eyasses, are on their way into the world.

You can watch the eggs hatch via a livestream from just outside the nest, which is perched on the 12th floor of the university's Bobst Library:

And here's a clip of the very first egg hatching:

So far, nest watchers have spotted a few cracks in just one of the eggs. But if all goes well, the live camera will soon be an exciting stream, with parents-and-kid feeding scenes like this one, from last year:

The happy couple started nesting outside the university president's office in 2011, according to the school. These hawks don't have official names, as NYU discourages on "anthropomorphizing" the birds of prey.

"Finally, we also find it also important to note, given the birds' beauty and the opportunity accorded by the Hawk Cam to observe them intimately as they raise their nestlings, there may be a tendency to project human traits on these raptors, including giving them names," according to to the school. "NYU does not officially endorse anthropomorphizing the adult hawks or their eyasses and will not seek to name them."

New York City is home to at least 20 known red-tailed hawk couples, most of whom have made permanent or semi-permanent nests here.

Image credit: Courtesy of the NYU Hawk Cam