BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk

Subject: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: freightdawg
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 04:58 PM

This morning on my way to work I saw a clump of red tailed hawk feathers splattered a few feet away from a deceased and partially eaten jackrabbit. I pulled over thinking I would move the hawk over to the side of the road and contact a local native American tribe to see if they wanted to harvest the feathers. As I approached the bird (and dodged traffic at 55 mph) I noticed his (her?? - there was no distinguishing underwear) head following me. Odd, I thought, because there was no wind. Then I realized the poor creature was still alive. I called the Mrs. Freightdawg, and lickety-split she had me on the phone with a NM game and fish officer, who said he was on his way down the very same highway and would be there to collect my patient momentarily. Last I saw of Hawkie he was in a cardboard box, still kicking and I am sure quite miffed at the morning he was having.

A couple of hours later I called the vet clinic that deals with injured wild animals, and to my great relief they were able to stabilize the hawk and get him on a airline bound for Albuquerque, where there is a wildlife rehab center that can care for him.

Anyway - if any 'Catters can channel a good spirit to take care of my little friend I would appreciate it. It just rips me to see one of God's majestic creatures like this bird get mangled by machines they have no defense against and no natural instinct to avoid. One minute he was eating breakfast and the next BAM, and the next thing he knew he was being picked up by some geeky two legged freak show.

sigh,

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:01 PM

fortunately, there are dedicated experts who often do wonders in these cases.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: ranger1
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:01 PM

Good thoughts winging away to Hawkie as I type.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: My guru always said
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:04 PM

Lots of positive thoughts from me, it breaks my heart to see what we're doing to nature. Thanks for rescuing this hawk Freightdawg!

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: skipy
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:05 PM

Fingers crossed, keep us up to date please!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Becca72
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:06 PM

I second that thought from My Guru.

Full and speedy recovery to our feathered friend!

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:08 PM

If it's Albiekirkie you want, talk to Art Brooks - he can probably pop in for a visit.

It's not often people will stop for injured creatures by the side of the road, bless you for doing it.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 05:55 PM

We have a place not too far away that takes care of injured critters that are brought to them. I wish more people would take advantage of it.
Good luck to the redtail!

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: gnu
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 06:03 PM

Good on ya for helping the poor thing. Of course, there are some Cedar Waxwings and Starlings here who might think otherwise. They have been feeding on apples left in my mum's tree... they get drunk on them and a certain Sharp Shinned Hawk has been having easy pickings lately. As well as an owl that perches in my maple and gets them early in the morning when they are hungover. Too bad they pigeons don't eat apples.... if they did, maybe they would miss my truck for a change.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Bobert
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 06:33 PM

Get well, quick, Mr/Mz Hawk... We is pullin' fir ya'...

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 06:50 PM

Good thoughts and prayers for the hawk. Kind of you to help out.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 07:26 PM

Thats so strange, I saw a 22 inch long dead hawk today.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 07:43 PM

There is also the fact that old freighdawg could have been in BIG trouble for trying to rescue the hawk. Federally protcted here, and we must NOT touch them! At least there was a wildlife officer near.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 07:54 PM

All hawks are protected here in Alberta, but good samaritanship is not punished.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 09:48 PM

It can be here, if you get a jerk as a responder. Fortunately most fish and game types are rational and reasonable -- and way, way underpaid for what they do.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 10:50 PM

Looks as if the right level of concern was generated all the way round. It was probably a young hawk who wasn't especially skilled at hunting live pray and was taking advantage of roadkill, without being that aware of how roadkill comes about.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: freightdawg
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 11:19 PM

Many thanks for all the kind thoughts...and a little update.

I have some connections in the Alb. area that should be able to check in on my little patient, if he did in fact survive the transfer. I should know something in the next few days.

The reasoning behind Sorcha's comment was in the back of my mind, that's why originally I was just going to move the carcass so it would not be destroyed, then call the local Indian tribes.

BTW - this is Red Tailed hawk rescue #2 for me. The first was in OK, and had to do more with my own doing. While doing some flight instruction (in a small Cessna) I collided with a soaring Red Tail. I watched him spiral down, and when the lesson was over I went and found him. I called some of my buddies and received two variations to the same answer: I was stupid for trying to rescue a wounded hawk, and I was just as stupid for trying to involve them. So I grabbed a sheet and a cat carrier and went and got him by myself. Stupid is as Stupid does. He was not nearly as damaged as this most recent bird, and rehabilitated quite nicely in a wildlife rehab center near where we lived. So, based on that experience, I really was not so concerned with the legal angle, although I know I could not have kept him by myself. (I would almost give my right arm to be licensed to own a hawk or falcon....but then I would probably just let him or her go because I don't know I could keep one penned. I wouldn't mind keeping a wounded bird in an aviary, if the state would let me, though)

This hawk was just a pile of feathers when I first saw him. The wildlife officer was very appreciative of my effort, and in the conversation let me know that an owl was on his way to the vet clinic for the very same reason - the losing end of a smack down with a car. He told me that the hawks and owls gorge themselves on their prey, and even if they see the approaching cars they cannot get airborne as fast as they thought they could.

I don't think Hawkie was dining on road kill. The jackrabbit looked like it was nabbed by the hawk. It was a BIG rabbit for the hawk though...and it might have been road kill.

Once again, thanks for the kind words. I cannot express my emotions looking into the eyes of that raptor. Simply magical - the true meaning of the word...awesome.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 09:48 AM

This bird -- it wasn't a Little Hawk, by any chance?

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 11:06 AM

That's what I thought when I first saw the title.:-)

Good for you for helping the hawk and for getting it to help so quickly. I've got lots of good thoughts for him/her and give thanks for its complete recovery.

I had the most extraordinary encounter a couple of weeks ago. There was a car stopped across from my driveway when I came home and was trying to turn in. I couldn't see why they were stopped, but they were obviously looking at something. As I pulled in, I saw a largish bird on the ground, bent over something else. I drove in very slowly as it was in the center, so only about two feet from my driver side door. What I saw was an American Kestrel gorging on a starling it had obviously killed recently. It was so intent it barely noticed me. I was able to open my door and softly speak to it. I tried to get a photo with my cellphone but it was full! He didn't fly away, with prey, until I closed my door and then it was so swiftly, I didn't even see it go!

It was just incredible, even though I felt badly for the starling AND guilty as I remembered hearing a bird in distress the week before, but found nothing when I went to look. I now realise it was probably another smaller bird eating at the feeders I'd put out recently, being hunted by the kestrel who found me so accommodating.

We rescued an injured, young seagull in CT, one time. We had a wildlife center there which took him in. He was in a box, in our bathroom for a short while. Really beautiful, kind of angry, definitely scared bird. We rescued various other critters back there.

In Casper, WY there is an elderly couple who have rehabilitated birds for umpteen years. They allow one to come out and see their "wards" which include a blind owl and almost always a bald or golden eagle or two. They have a little handwritten logbook, well several actually, in which they keep track of all the birds ever brought to them. Their goal is always to release to the wild once it is deemed okay.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: The PA
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 11:07 AM

Well done to you for putting yourself out to help, its all too easy to just drive past.

My friend found a small deer (not sure which type probably Muntjack) curled up in the middle of the lane, got out of her car and picked it up and put it at the side of the road where it promptly lay down again. After stopping the traffic and a couple more attempts, she assumed it had been struck a glansing blow by a passing car and put it in the back of her car (with her two daughters!) and took it to the local vet.
There were no visible injuries and seemed quite alert and unfazed by the car journey. However on calling later that day to enquire she discovered they had immediately put the poor thing to sleep because they were not able to take it anywhere.

Sounds like your bird is having better look.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: The PA
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 11:12 AM

Or even better luck !

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 09:57 AM

Good thoughts to the hawk from the UK.

Good for you for rescuing it.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: freightdawg
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 12:26 PM

Update: We finally tracked the hawk to a rehabilitation center near Albuquerque. Unfortunately, and as I had expected, the bird was just too injured to completely rehabilitate. One wing was broken in one place, and probably would have healed. However, the other was just shattered, with no hope of the bird ever recovering flight capability. The very kind person in charge said that the birds cannot be kept alive if they cannot be replaced into the wild, or if there is no place for them in an educational setting. So, they had to put the hawk down.

Thanks for the kind thoughts. I knew in my heart this was probably going to be the end result, but what can you do when you look into those eyes?

This hurts.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 01:22 PM

I thought of this thread yesterday as Karen and I enjoyed seeing an extremely large Red Tail sitting very close to the road in a smallish tree......a bit unusual. We slowed for a good look and he treated us to a beautiful takeoff. We talked then of how perfect many birds are and how wonderfully evolved. Raptors occupy a special place.

Sorry Dawg. When I first read this thread I was reminded of a couple of personal instances that came out badly and I hated to post must thinking about them. But I would do it again as I know you did and will........What else can I say?   Reality and Nature often suck.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 01:33 PM

Ah, that is so sad. Good for you for doing your best; at least he wasn't left out alone and in pain. They are so beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:47 PM

One can only try, and hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 03:52 PM

And Mother has Her Plan......

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 04:08 PM

So sorry to see this, but I'd been worried this might be the case. Sometimes it might be better not to find out the end result, but to keep hope. But you gave the hawk a chance and shared your kindness with it, it was a good thing to do. Rest easy!
Hil

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 04:55 PM

Sorry to hear the outcome in this case.

Those of us who monitor the various Eagle cams around the world are painfully aware of the "good semaritans" who drop off salmon near the nests for the eagles to feed on. In retrun they get some great photos to show to their friends. The downside is that the eagles get more used to scavenging for food, and put themselves more at risk. It is far better for the eagles to learn to hunt, or at least to steal food from other raptors.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 12:44 AM

Speaking of which, there are some eagles who have already laid their first two eggs, in a rather snowy nest: The Cycle Continues.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: GUEST,Chicken Charlie
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 11:11 AM

My thoughts are with your bird.

I have some historical re-enactor friends who double as bird rescuers. They're in a network where you specialize by species or groups thereof--the lady does hummers, swallows and swifts. Young hummers eat little but often, so she comes to events with a period picnic basket slung on her arm. Every now and then you hear peeping from it, and it's feeding time. Recovery rate is pretty good; if something can't be released, it goes to a second-tier type deal and becomes one of the demonstration birds for classes on wildlife. Amazing how organized it all is.

My own efforts have been limited to the occasional displaced nestling, but it's rewarding. I remember taking in a jay, who came back after his recovery and would take sunflower seeds from my hand, and a big band-tailed pigeon who flew into a window and hurt his leg. Band-tails were only migratory where we lived; I released him when he was better and was very gratified that he came through again the next year, recognizable by a limp, but obviously able to handle long-distance flying. If there was a rescue network in those days, we weren't aware of it, but I guess we did OK.

Sounds like the hawk is over the worst part. Thanks for sharing.

Chicken Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed - injured hawk
From: freightdawg
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 10:23 PM

So very grateful for all the kind words from all...

It is truly amazing what wildlife rehabilitators can do. We visited one such place in Oklahoma and it was astounding how many Red Tails she had in her various areas - from post-op to single cages to a very large aviary that held dozens of birds.

She also had a coyote or two, and a litter of fox kits that someone found - probably not abandoned but captured anyway.

In Colorado one such place could not get rid of a little mule deer because it kept coming back every time they released it. During hunting season they draped a huge orange cape over it to protect it from hunters.

And I am deeply touched by the number of 'Catters who sacrifice themselves to save a creature or two from man's relentless rape of the earth.

As my hero John Denver sang (although the words were not his)

"its we who will measure the cost."

Freightdawg