Author Topic: News: Hawks & Kites (Read 27385 times)

Alison · « **Reply #58 on:** September 05, 2018, 15:33 »

Birds of prey poisoned with Carbofuran in Eastern Bavaria: difficult search for offender

Poisoned birds of prey in East Bavaria are a great concern for animal rights activists and police. The strictly protected animals have been killed by the herbicide Carbofuran, banned since 2008. At the end of July, the carcass of a marsh harrier was found near Wallersdorf (Dingolfing-Landau district).

One can only speculate who might be interested in killing birds of prey, said Markus Schmidberger from the Bavarian Birds Association (LBV) in Cham. Last summer, around the city of Upper Palatinate at least nine birds of prey were poisoned with bait, including red kites. At the end of April, a common buzzard had been poisoned near Höllsteinsee near Viechtach (Regen district).

While eating the bait, the birds of prey die.

Even the slightest amount of Carbofuran could also be dangerous to humans, said Schmidberger. "Birds of prey are still dying while eating the bait, and maybe an animal will manage to fly 100 yards after that." But then it will be over. Where the forbidden poison comes from is unclear. It could be old stock, or orders from the Internet. "That's where you get everything."

Finding a culprit is difficult. One should not suspect groups wholesale, Schmidberger said. It could be a dog-lover who accepts the death of birds of prey. It could also be a pigeon breeder or a hunter. Because birds of prey will take also carrier pigeons, pheasants or partridges.

Whereby with the poison baits just the air fighters among the birds of prey would not be caught. For example, the peregrine falcon, which grabs a flying dove, would generally not eat any lying meat bait, Schmidberger explained. Therefore, the poison would be more likely to affect the species that were looking for carrion on the ground.

SPD calls for strengthening of the state criminal police in the field of environmental crime.

The Bavarian Hunting Association (BJV) distanced itself "very massively" from such acts. The birds of prey occurring in Germany are strictly protected. "That's what we stand for, and also when it comes to poaching," said Egbert Urbach, head of the BJV State Hunting School. "Even if it's someone from our ranks, let him lose his hunting licence."

That there are fewer and fewer pheasants, partridges and hares, is not the fault of birds of prey, said LBV man Schmidberger. Today, meadows would no longer be mowed twice a year, but more often, so meadow breeders and hares would have a lower chance of survival.

"The killing of endangered species is no triviality"

The member of parliament Florian von Brunn (SPD) demanded a strengthening of the state criminal police in the field of environmental crime in view of the killed birds of prey. That was long overdue, he said according to the announcement on
Tuesday. In Bavaria, birds of prey were poisoned for years and lynxes were simply shot down. The CSU government must make suggestions on how it wants to solve the problem. "The killing of endangered species is no triviality."

The investigation into the series of poisonings in the district of Cham last summer, according to LBV man Schmidberger, have
been discontinued. In the Wallersdorf case of the killed marsh harrier investigations are still underway. "We depend on the help of witnesses here," a police spokeswoman said.

https://www.pnp.de/nachrichten/bayern/3041179_Vergiftete-Greifvoegel-in-Ostbayern-schwierige-Taetersuche.html

burdi · « **Reply #57 on:** September 16, 2017, 19:34 »

What a happy ending for “Harvey the Hurricane Hawk”!

Here’s a nice video from the YouTube channel of William Bruso: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ur5cLtYwsc

Stay safe, Harvey!

burdi · « **Reply #56 on:** September 16, 2017, 19:10 »

Harvey the Hawk was set free in Plano, Texas, and William Bruso was there to assist with her release! I'm posting a few of my favourite photos from Blackland Prairie Raptor Center.

William Bruso says good-bye to Harvey.

First seconds of freedom!

Her sights are on the tree line dead ahead of her.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Blackland-Prairie-Raptor-Center-293353771975/

burdi · « **Reply #55 on:** September 16, 2017, 18:24 »

National Geographic - Latest Stories - Coverage of Harvey the Hawk

Hawk Escapes Hurricane Harvey by Car, Then Is Set Free

A young, female hawk is now free after riding out Hurricane Harvey with a Houston cab driver.

By Sarah Gibbens

PUBLISHED September 14, 2017

“Harvey the Hurricane Hawk” became an Internet star after the young bird of prey flew into William Bruso’s taxi cab in Houston. The Cooper’s hawk, which despite the name is female, escaped the storm with the driver.

Video of the hawk sitting in the cab’s passenger seat quickly went viral.

Now Harvey will live out the rest of her days in Oak Point Park in Plano, Texas, a nature preserve with hundreds of acres of wooded area in which hawks thrive.

It’s a happy ending for a bird that survived one of Houston’s worst natural disasters.
Riding Out the Storm

As Bruso tells it, he spotted the hawk while parked and got out to take a picture. As he was adjusting his camera, a cat ran by and spooked the hawk, causing it to fly up and dart into his car. Initially, Bruso was not excited to have the hawk in his passenger seat.

“I was afraid of getting arrested,” said Bruso.

Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it’s illegal to capture a Cooper’s hawk, and Bruso was fearful that authorities would think he had intentionally put the hawk in his car. On his drive home, he said he stopped several times when the rain let up to coax the bird out of the window, but it wouldn’t budge.

Eventually, as the storm hit hardest, Bruso took the bird into his Houston-area apartment, where it sat in a corner near the liquor cabinet.

Tucked away on high ground, Bruso said he and a friend rode out the storm with the door open, a hawk in the corner, and glasses of liquor to calm their anxiety.

Seeing his YouTube post, the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition reached out to Bruso and picked up the bird two days later.

Bruso said he felt relieved once the bird was gone. Flooding was quickly becoming a problem in his neighborhood, and he didn’t know if he would be able to take care of a bird of prey if forced to evacuate.

“I needed to take care of myself, and I would’ve felt bad if something happened to her,” he said.
Rehabilitating Harvey

Harvey’s journey to Plano, about 250 miles north of Houston, was a long one. Major habitat destruction from Hurricane Harvey and Houston’s resulting floods made much of that area unsuitable for wildlife releases, according to Eric Neupert, director of the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center that released Harvey. The center has received three raptors from the Houston area and said other wildlife refuges are taking in animals such as possums and raccoons.

It has been roughly three weeks since Harvey was able to fly freely. The bird was brought into captivity shortly after hitching its ride on August 25.

“[Cooper’s hawks] are high-stress birds. It’s very tightly wound,” said Neupert. “In captivity it bashes around a lot and flies really fast. It can injure itself from being around humans.”

Neupert suspects the hawk only appeared calm with Bruso because it was extremely exhausted and stressed from the hurricane. When storms approach, hawks are able to detect changes to air pressure and have difficulty taking flight during the torrential downpour. Typically they search for natural cover, but in a dense urban city like Houston, there were few places for the hawk to shelter.

After the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition turned the hawk over to the raptor center, which had a larger raptor facility, it was given a full medical exam and diagnosed as healthy.

Comments on Bruso’s YouTube video speculated that the hawk was injured because its wings appeared to hang low. While its wings weren’t injured, Neupert said, they appeared to droop because of stress.

“She took flight immediately” in the raptor center’s flight cage, said Neupert, and plans were quickly arranged for the hawk’s release into a natural area. Bruso made the three-hour drive to Plano to watch Harvey fly into the park. For him, it’s closure on one of the most bizarre and stressful events of his life.

“During the storm, I was in survival mode,” said Bruso, “but in hindsight, it’s magical.”

For the man who became the unwitting caretaker of Houston’s famous hurricane hawk, the hawk’s rescue represents a second chance that some Houstonians didn’t get.

“People lost their lives during Harvey,” he said. “This hawk survived. She can go do hawk stuff now, and I’m glad for that.”

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/09/hurricane-harvey-hawk-rescue-video-spd/

burdi · « **Reply #54 on:** September 12, 2017, 02:12 »

Brief update on Harvey the Hawk from Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

Harvey the Hurricane Hawk Lands in Lucas

http://www.bpraptorcenter.org/

burdi · « **Reply #53 on:** September 08, 2017, 18:27 »

TWRC published another uplifting video update on Harvey the Hurricane Hawk!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Ti6_mFeq4

Harvey has been transferred to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

burdi · « **Reply #52 on:** September 05, 2017, 19:07 »

Harvey the Hurricane Hawk is a female, and she's doing great!

Update from TWRC

Published on Sep 4, 2017
Harvey the Hurricane Hawk is doing great! As promised, here is the video showing Harvey in the outside mew. Harvey will go to a large outdoor flight cage in a few days! Here are some interesting facts about Harvey: Harvey is actually a girl! Female Cooper’s Hawks weigh more than males and she is heavier than a typical male would be. Coopers Hawks’ favorite food are small to mid-sized birds, which they catch in flight. Therefore, Harvey will need to be able to fly perfectly before release so that she can hunt well in the wild. Harvey is a juvenile, so this is her first year of life. Next year she may find a mate and produce offspring, but most Cooper’s Hawks do not breed until they are 2 years old.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_-5w3N2Wc

burdi · « **Reply #51 on:** September 05, 2017, 19:00 »

The TWRC Wildlife Center provided a short video showing the progress of Harvey the Hurricane Hawk, including the following update.

Published on Sep 4, 2017
Harvey has finished cage rest and is now in an outside mew (outside enclosure) for a few days before going into a large flight cage! Here is some video of Harvey in the Kennel yesterday full of energy and looking more like a healthy Cooper’s Hawk. We will do another post with a video clip of Harvey in the outside cage as well as some interesting Harvey facts.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCCbvBw5TM0

burdi · « **Reply #50 on:** August 31, 2017, 19:33 »

News from Texas continues to be heartbreaking, but the story of Harvey the hawk may turn out well, I hope.

I’m including a couple of news articles and a video from TWRC Wildlife Center.

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/08/31/547332452/from-hawk-to-horse-animal-rescues-during-hurricane-harvey

http://www.audubon.org/news/the-story-harvey-coopers-hawk-rescued-during-hurricane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVe5ynGQRMk

burdi · « **Reply #49 on:** August 30, 2017, 02:37 »

I found further info on the hawk in Houston, Texas. But sadly, many news sources say that rainfall and flooding in Texas is unprecedented. Damage reports continue, and Houston is under a curfew.

The person who rescued the hawk has been receiving all sorts of criticism, but I’m just thankful he remained calm and wanted to help; otherwise, “Harvey the Hurricane Hawk” might not have survived! TWRC Wildlife Center managed to provided an update, although their facility is currently closed.

News article and update

http://womc.cbslocal.com/2017/08/29/harvey-the-hurricane-hawk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P7qp_Zi_NA

burdi · « **Reply #48 on:** August 27, 2017, 19:02 »

I noticed a news story about a hawk in Houston, Texas:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/harvey-the-hurricane-hawk_us_59a2cd21e4b06d67e33833a9

Thankfully, the taxi driver remained calm, and he handled the bird very well! Later, he turned the bird over to a wildlife rescue centre:

http://www.twrcwildlifecenter.org/

Here’s some info regarding the chilling effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-27/crews-rescue-hundreds-from-homes-cars-as-harvey-hits-houston/8847014

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hurricane-harvey-threatens-thousands-pets-livestock-000642646--finance.html

Alison · « **Reply #47 on:** December 02, 2016, 01:13 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on November 29, 2016, 14:31

Quote from: Alison on November 20, 2016, 21:39
TPC, do you know what kind of bird this is? I think it may be a leucistic hawk. This bird is from a Dutch website with multiple cams where I go to check on the Axel peregrine nest.

Because we can't see the bird's tail or in profile and it is hard to accurately gauge size, I think my first guess would be a leucistic common buzzard (Buteo buteo) because what first came to mind was that it reminded me of a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) or one of the other broad-winged, stocky, medium-sized hawks. Best opinion I can provide I'm afraid - hope it helps. If anyone on the Dutch site comes up with possibilities, please do post it/them here as well, would be interesting to hear their thoughts.

Thanks for the reply, TPC! I think you are right about this bird being a common buzzard.

I have not see her again on cam, but perhaps this recent video of the bird will help. She (?) is referred to as a "blonde buzzard".

https://youtu.be/hk3icXlsRDY

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #46 on:** November 29, 2016, 14:31 »

Quote from: Alison on November 20, 2016, 21:39

TPC, do you know what kind of bird this is? I think it may be a leucistic hawk. This bird is from a Dutch website with multiple cams where I go to check on the Axel peregrine nest.

Because we can't see the bird's tail or in profile and it is hard to accurately gauge size, I think my first guess would be a leucistic common buzzard (Buteo buteo) because what first came to mind was that it reminded me of a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) or one of the other broad-winged, stocky, medium-sized hawks. Best opinion I can provide I'm afraid - hope it helps. If anyone on the Dutch site comes up with possibilities, please do post it/them here as well, would be interesting to hear their thoughts.

Alison · « **Reply #45 on:** November 20, 2016, 21:39 »

TPC, do you know what kind of bird this is? I think it may be a leucistic hawk. This bird is from a Dutch website with multiple cams where I go to check on the Axel peregrine nest.

http://www.natuurkanaal.nl/

This particular cam is Boscam 4.

burdi · « **Reply #44 on:** July 27, 2016, 03:06 »

Quote from: Alison on July 26, 2016, 23:29

Lincoln, Nebraska

July 26, 2016

A hawk took a big interest in a TV news weather-cam on Monday.

KOLN in Lincoln, Nebraska said the hawk likes to hang out in front of the camera mounted on their tower, so they check in on it from time to time.

But they've never seen it stare them down like this.

They speculated it had a lot to say about the weather that day.

To see the video:

http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Hawk-checks-out-TV-stations-weather-camera-388289662.html

Thank you for sharing this story, Alison. I have to wonder exactly what this hawk was seeing, thinking and saying while visiting the camera … the look on his or her face was priceless!

Alison · « **Reply #43 on:** July 26, 2016, 23:29 »

Lincoln, Nebraska

July 26, 2016

A hawk took a big interest in a TV news weather-cam on Monday.

KOLN in Lincoln, Nebraska said the hawk likes to hang out in front of the camera mounted on their tower, so they check in on it from time to time.

But they've never seen it stare them down like this.

They speculated it had a lot to say about the weather that day.

To see the video:

http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Hawk-checks-out-TV-stations-weather-camera-388289662.html

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #42 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:16 »

Here's a neat project to keep an eye on through the winter and into next spring ....

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's Broad-winged Hawk Project
http://www.hawkmountain.org/science/broadwing-tracking/page.aspx?id=4456

About the Project: Join us as we track the amazing journey of the broad-winged hawk from space using satellite telemetry technology, and together we'll trace the movements of this long-distance migrant from Pennsylvania to Central and South America, and back. This study marks the first time a telemetry unit has ever been placed on a juvenile broadwing. Hawk Mountain is grateful to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for its State Wildlife Grant, as well as support from ATAS International and other private donors and supporters on Indiegogo for making this work possible.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #41 on:** June 11, 2015, 12:07 »

Flaming hawk with snake in its talons sparks $10k brush fire
The Weather Network - 11 June 2015

In a scene beyond the imagination of any nature documentary, a hawk carrying a snake in its talons struck power lines north of San Diego Tuesday, sparking a hillside fire.

Despite the flames burning near several local businesses, the incident resulted in $10,000 damage but required no evacuations as officers were quick to call in San Diego Fire-Rescue crews who contained the fire within an hour. Up to 80 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire, including a helicopter used to drop water on it.

Fire officials confirmed the cause of the blaze after locating the dead bird and snake in the aftermath.

"A hawk that hit the high voltage power line, caught fire, and fell to the ground," SD Fire-Rescue spokesperson Lee Swanson said in a written release.

Hear interview & watch video = http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/flaming-hawk-with-snake-in-its-talons-sparks-us-brush-fire/52483/

WARNING - VIDEO HAS A GRAPHIC IMAGE OF THE DEAD HAWK

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #40 on:** September 12, 2014, 21:52 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on September 12, 2014, 21:51

Big day at one of the Veracruz, Mexico hawk migration sites ... at least for Mississippi Kites ... 15,591 over a 6.5 hour period. That brings the total to just under 174,000 kites (70,755 in Aug and 102,968 so far in Sept) through that site since the site opened on August 20th. The day with the highest count was August 29th with over 27,000 in a 10 hour period and there have been no days between August 20th and today that MIKIs have not been observed at this site. Imagine having 174,000 peregrines ...

in case folks are looking for these numbers here ...

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #39 on:** August 31, 2014, 22:59 »

For those interested, Mississippi Kites (no idea if ours as well) have been hitting southern migration sites for the last couple/three weeks, but only on certain days. Today was one of those days - 9380 kites went through a Veracruz, Mexico migration site in just under 9 hours. The only other raptor identified during this same period was 1 osprey. Counts in Texas a bit earlier were in the 1000s a couple of days but this seems to have been the big day for MIKIs.

GCG · « **Reply #38 on:** August 01, 2014, 04:49 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on July 31, 2014, 19:35

Quote from: dupre501 on July 31, 2014, 16:21
According to Birding News, these Mississippi Kites have nested and it contains at least 1 chick. They are not releasing the location of the nest.

Just as a point of (maybe) interest, keeping raptor (falcon, hawk, eagle, osprey, owl & now kite) nest locations confidential has become a standard practice with our birding groups (and likely many others too) for the security of the birds. Unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions and sometimes there are just too many good intentioned folks wanting to get a look and the result can be the same.

Your suggestion is one I will follow. These birds have excited many and now that confirmation of a nest has been posted, we should not spook the Kites. I am sure there will be many more photos to see.

Kinderchick · « **Reply #37 on:** July 31, 2014, 20:03 »

Quote from: gemcitygemini on July 31, 2014, 03:36

Actually, our very good friend is the birder who first saw these birds. He lives a very short walk from there. He sits at the intersection on a lawn chair with his camera (with a larrrge lens) and his binocs. He has been sending photos to us and others and these amazing birds have captured the attention of many. He has posted many photos of his sightings on Flickr.

Wow! Beautiful photos of many Manitoba birds! Thanks for sharing, gcg.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #36 on:** July 31, 2014, 19:35 »

Quote from: dupre501 on July 31, 2014, 16:21

According to Birding News, these Mississippi Kites have nested and it contains at least 1 chick. They are not releasing the location of the nest.

Just as a point of (maybe) interest, keeping raptor (falcon, hawk, eagle, osprey, owl & now kite) nest locations confidential has become a standard practice with our birding groups (and likely many others too) for the security of the birds. Unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions and sometimes there are just too many good intentioned folks wanting to get a look and the result can be the same.

Must admit I haven't gone out yet because I know there is quite a following already ... hopefully I'll get a peek when the new-ness of the discovery wears off a bit. Meantime, just going to enjoy vicariously through photos and reports from other birders. So not that different than many of our members here who are too far away to visit our birds in person

dupre501 · « **Reply #35 on:** July 31, 2014, 16:21 »

According to Birding News, these Mississippi Kites have nested and it contains at least 1 chick. They are not releasing the location of the nest.

This is amazing news.

dupre501 · « **Reply #34 on:** July 31, 2014, 10:59 »

Wow! Took a look at the photos, they are beautiful.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #33 on:** July 31, 2014, 10:11 »

Quote from: gemcitygemini on July 31, 2014, 03:36

Actually, our very good friend is the birder who first saw these birds. He lives a very short walk from there. He sits at the intersection on a lawn chair with his camera (with a larrrge lens) and his binocs. He has been sending photos to us and others and these amazing birds have captured the attention of many. He has posted many photos of his sightings on Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/96313041%40N08/

He also has some nice photos of Beau ....

GCG · « **Reply #32 on:** July 31, 2014, 03:36 »

Actually, our very good friend is the birder who first saw these birds. He lives a very short walk from there. He sits at the intersection on a lawn chair with his camera (with a larrrge lens) and his binocs. He has been sending photos to us and others and these amazing birds have captured the attention of many. He has posted many photos of his sightings on Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/96313041%40N08/

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #31 on:** July 30, 2014, 23:29 »

Quote from: Kinderchick on July 30, 2014, 20:00

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on July 30, 2014, 17:15
Apparently there was a whole whack of "big" cameras at the gathering this morning
Not sure if Dennis was working today ...

I guess we'll find out in due time if our Dennis was there with "Wowzer"!

He hasn't been so far ...

Kinderchick · « **Reply #30 on:** July 30, 2014, 20:00 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on July 30, 2014, 17:15

Apparently there was a whole whack of "big" cameras at the gathering this morning
Not sure if Dennis was working today ...

I guess we'll find out in due time if our Dennis was there with "Wowzer"!

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #29 on:** July 30, 2014, 17:15 »

Apparently there was a whole whack of "big" cameras at the gathering this morning

Not sure if Dennis was working today ...

BirdLover · « **Reply #28 on:** July 30, 2014, 13:59 »

I just read this on the Winnipeg Free Press sight.

It reminds me of when the Ross' Gull turned up in Churchill in the early 80s. We had lots of birders come up to specifically see them.

I wonderful to be able to see birds that we normally wouldn't see.

Thanks for the pics dupre

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2014, 22:12 »

Quote from: Kinderchick on July 29, 2014, 19:19

Wonderful! Might it be our own Dennis's exceedingly reputable sightings & photos?

Not so far as I know

dupre501 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2014, 22:02 »

Checked this out for myself, around 7 p.m. There were a whole lot of birders hanging out on the same corner. I caught a glimpse of one of them myself.

Kinderchick · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2014, 19:19 »

Wonderful! Might it be our own Dennis's exceedingly reputable sightings & photos?

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2014, 11:30 »

Mississippi Kites

There have been a number of (exceedingly reputable) sightings (and photos) of a pair of Mississippi Kites flying over the Wellington Crescent area in the last couple of days. We are a little further north than their usual stomping grounds ...

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #23 on:** June 08, 2014, 12:15 »

Swallow-tailed Kite

For those wanting a bit more information on these birds ...

Cornell's All About Birds page on Swallow-tailed Kites: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/id

Kinderchick · « **Reply #22 on:** May 29, 2014, 08:38 »

Wow! Very interesting article & very exciting news & sighting for Manitoba birders.

allikat · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2014, 22:21 »

WOW, 122 years!!!

What a site, literally! Hope this is good news for the future of this species!

irenekl · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2014, 09:30 »

Very cool. And now how can any of us resist watching out for our very own sighting. Heads up, that's for sure!

Jazzerkins · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2014, 07:30 »

Swallow-tailed Kite

Great article. Beautiful bird.

Rare bird of prey not seen here in more than a century
Winnipeg Free Press / 28 May 2014

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/out-of-the-blue-260878551.html

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2014, 19:32 »

And you thought it was just a rumour

Raptor porn: The ridiculous proliferation of the red-tail call
Christopher Cokinos / Salon / 27 Dec 2013

Once my partner Kathe and I were hiking at Fossil Butte in Wyoming when we heard a red-tailed hawk. We peered, hands over foreheads, at the huge Western sky, as rabbitbrush and sage scuffled in the wind. Bits of dirt pelted our calves. It was perfect soaring weather, warm and windy, the hawk hunting for prey with eyes that can make out headlines a mile away. Kathe then told me about a romance novel she’d read in which the heroine would scream like a red-tailed hawk – which is very hard to do – in order to call in her helpful wild mustang named Lucifer. Kreeeer, kreeeer we called, laughing, to the horseless landscape.

Just as steam is a visual cue for Mechanical Failure or Brooding Evil in science-fiction film, so too is the cry of the red-tailed hawk an auditory signal for Wildness in everything from romance novels to films and TV shows. Few sounds are more piercing. So, of course, our use of this call is another iteration of how we use animals in our stories, from fairy tales to myths. Around the world, birds of prey have been venerated as gods, royalty, warriors, sacred messengers, protectors and prophets. New Agers sometimes talk of a hawk’s presence as giving vision to earth activists, those tree-hugging, spirit-animal, the-revolution-won’t-be-motorized folks who may or may not know a hawk’s feather from a robin’s. But the red-tail cry is no longer woven into a narrative fabric explaining the relational roles of humans and animals in the world, as in, say, the Cheyenne tale of how a hawk beat a bison in a race, thus sparing humans from being eaten by bison and allowing us to hunt them instead.

Now the cry of the red-tail is simplistic metaphor, the vehicle for promoting the feeling of wildness rather than its ecological fact. This cry is a dramatic aural wave of the hand, a glimpse of some lost vista, the wild that we wish for but only to a point. It does not frighten us. It inspires a tidy, monadic surge of ferocity or freedom, quickly passed over in novel or movie because the hawk isn’t embodied. Disembodied, this voice gets invoked or punched up “for effect.”

I’ve been listening to and for inappropriate and excessive use of this cry for a long time. The promiscuous replication of this call at the hands of sound editors is nothing short of Raptor Porn. And, like all porn, unless you’re in the mood, it’s sort of ridiculous. And, as with porn (though that is a different and more complicated story), it can mask the real ...

Read the rest here: http://www.salon.com/2013/12/28/raptor_porn_the_ridiculous_proliferation_of_the_red_tail_call/

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2013, 23:45 »

For those of you who are fans of Red-tailed Hawks, just had a report through one of my birding loops that an adult male red-tail was captured, or rather, re-captured at Cape May, New Hampshire. Bird was banded so with a little investigation, bird was found to have been banded in Virginia in 1993. So 20 years old.

According to longevity records up to 1994 showed that the record for a wild red-tail is 25 years, 9 months and for a captive (female) at least 29.5 years. The sample size was just over 5,000 birds of which, 31 had survived 17 years and older while only 11 survived to be 20 years or older. So this Virginia males is a member of a very exclusive club!!

Kinderchick · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2013, 18:44 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on January 28, 2013, 19:10

Classic eyes too big for his stomach (or rather his crop!)

LOL! I guess those are what one would refer to as "hawk eyes"!

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2013, 19:10 »

Classic eyes too big for his stomach (or rather his crop!)

dupre501 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2013, 12:43 »

Good heavens!

Kinderchick · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2013, 23:03 »

Ha!!! What a story! Certainly felt sorry for the hawk. Still, couldn't help but chuckle when I saw the photo and read the story. Poor thing. Glad that he was okay, when all was said and done.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2013, 17:58 »

Fat Hawk Down
13 Jan 2013, The Daily Mail (UK)

Bird of prey left sprawled on its back after it ate a coot and was unable to take off again

We all know that feeling - a large lunch leaves us sprawled out on the sofa. Similarly, this juvenile red-tailed hawk was rendered immobile after scoffing down another bird. Photographer Steve Shinn managed to snap the stricken bird of prey on its back after a meal of a coot near a nature preserve in Long Beach, California.

'I shot this just after a big holiday meal and think I could feel this bird's pain,' he explained. 'I found this bird in a very unhawklike position looking very distressed. It had attacked a Coot near the stream and chewed away on it for about a half hour before it waddled about 50 feet and fell flat on his keister.'

'It seemed to be breathing well so I called some folks who work for South Bay Wildlife Recovery, a wonderful organisation that mainly works with raptors and other animals. They had one their members on the way in minutes so I opted to not to disturb the bird by getting it upright as being on its back is not a good position as it can interfere with breathing.'

'The stuffed critter was collected and taken in for some rest and recovery. A day later it was sitting on a perch and seemed none the worse for the gluttonous rampage. They plan to return it to the same area as soon as recovery is complete.'

You have to check out all the photos: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261735/Fat-hawk-Bird-prey-left-sprawled-ate-coot-unable-again.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:52 »

Stumbled across this rehab and release story today ... just to prove that sometimes things got all to heck due to Murphy's Law ...

Raptor release turns into rescue
Sarnia Observer - 21 June 2012

It had already been a harrowing year for a female red-tailed hawk that was set to be released Thursday.

She was seriously hurt last fall when she collided with a tractor trailer windshield on Highway 402. She dodged a trip to the taxidermist and ended up at the Bluewater Centre for Raptor Rehabilitation. After months of recovery, she was all set to be released at the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area.

But things didnt go quite as planned for the hawk.

Find out what went wrong at Raptor release turns into rescue - you'll want to follow the link, there is a great video of the rescue!!

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2012, 19:31 »

Alert after rare bird found poisoned

One of the country’s rarest birds of prey has been found poisoned at a North Yorklshire beauty spot. The stricken red kite was found by a dog-walker as he exercised his pet in woodland at Cawthorn Roman Camps, north of Pickering. The creature was examined by a vet and is currently being cared for at the Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation centre at Malton.

The species has been the subject of the longest continuous conservation project in the world, and in the 1980s was one of only three globally-threatened species in the UK. In 1989 a reintroduction programme began with a total of 93 birds being released at sites throughout Scotland and England, with the last birds being released in 1994. The first successful breeding was recorded in 1992 and in 1994 the birds raised in the wild had young themselves.

However they still face the threat of illegal poisoning - and North Yorkshire has the highest number of reports of raptor persecution in the country. PC Stewart Ashton said "Despite it being illegal to harm birds of prey, we have intelligence that people are still actively killing them in areas of Ryedale and adjacent districts. Some areas of land are particularly dangerous for these birds and I would urge anyone with any information regarding their persecution, to contact North Yorkshire Police on telephone number 101.” He added: “If anyone wishes to remain anonymous then that isn’t a problem, but we really need the community to work with the Police in trying to stamp out the illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of these wonderful birds."

Dog-walkers have also been warned to look out for dead animals that may have been laced with poison as the poison used in these cases can often be dangerous to both humans and pet animals. "If we receive evidence that someone is killing birds of prey, they will be arrested," said PC Ashton.

Link to story: The Advertiser - Alert after rare bird found poisoned

Ellie · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2011, 16:10 »

Wonderful news. Great to know there are others out there who are clued in to wildlife that need help and know what to do when they find them.

Saoirse · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2011, 10:26 »

Thanks, Elaine -- always so much bad news, it's great to see some of the good news!

Moonstar · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2011, 10:09 »

A very nice story. It was nice that they let the man who rescued the bird, release it.
thanks Elaine L for the nice link to this story.

Elaine L · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2011, 09:50 »

After reading the sad news this morning about the loss of Kate, I thought some good news was in order. Here is a story about the release of a red-tailed hawk in Edmonton after it had been burned by a methane flare eight months ago. There is also a video.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/tailed+hawk+flies+again+after+recovering+from+burns/5237277/story.html

Alison · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2010, 15:16 »

Red kite chicks born in Ireland for first time in over 200 years

The successful hatching of the first red kite chicks to be born here in over two centuries has been hailed as a significant achievement in the programme to restore Irish biodiversity. Five chicks have been confirmed in two nests in Co Wicklow, according to scientists with the Golden Eagle Trust Red Kite Project. The exact location of the nests is not being disclosed in order to minimise threats to the birds.

The red kite once flourished in Ireland but became extinct in the 18th century due to persecution, poisoning and woodland clearance. In 2007, a project began to reintroduce the bird and, so far, 81 red kites have been imported from Wales and released in Co Wicklow. A similar project is under way in Northern Ireland. Most of the birds have survived, and some have migrated to counties as far away as Kerry and Leitrim.

The birds first bred in two nests last year but neither produced any young. This year, nine breeding attempts were discovered, and six of these still have females incubating eggs. Three others have failed. Three chicks have been seen in one nest and two in another. Minister for the Environment John Gormley, who visited the project yesterday to view progress, described the hatching of the chicks as a milestone for the project and an excellent example of an Irish biodiversity project. The aim of the project is to produce a self-sustaining population of red kites, according to the project manager Damien Clarke. “It is my hope that the red kite will, with time, once again be a common sight throughout Ireland. These Irish-bred chicks are the first sign of that becoming a reality.”

The red kite, so called because of its reddish-brown body and tail, has a wingspan of up to 1.8 metres. The bird nests in trees and often lines its nests with scraps of cloth and paper, a practice noted by Shakespeare. Their prey includes small mammals, crows, pigeons, insects and worms. The bird survived in Wales, though at one point there were only two known breeding pairs there. Today, there are about 600 breeding pairs in Wales alone.

Photo by Garry ONeill:

Alison · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2009, 20:05 »

Injured Red Tailed Hawk Rescued

An injured red-tailed hawk has a second chance at life thanks to some quick-thinking witnesses, a skilled bird handler and a bird-rescue organization.

The bird, with a mangled left wing, was spotted on the side of Route 8 near Batts Neck Road in Stevensville on Wednesday afternoon. Kent Island resident Stephen Reverand, who is a licensed falconer, got a call from his friend, Chris Bird, about the injured hawk.

"They had seen the hawk on the side of Route 8 and they knew I handle hawks. … People know people on Kent Island. They knew I am licensed to handle hawks," said Reverand, who said he works by day as a filmmaker for the National Geographic Channel. Reverand, who currently trains and flies a peregrine falcon as a hobby, quickly headed to the scene.

"I thought I'd see Chris and an injured hawk, and there were eight or nine cars and a photographer," he recalled. "That tells me people care about injured wildlife." Reverand guessed the hawk may have been hit by a car. It recently had eaten and had a full crop, which is a pouch near the throat that is part of its digestive tract. Other than the broken wing, the hawk appeared to be in good shape, though Reverand cautioned he's not an expert.

With the help of his son, Joshua, who is an apprentice falconer, Reverand covered the hawk with a towel, secured its legs and took it home. The bird stayed at the Reverands' home overnight and then was taken to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research in Newark, Del., on Thursday. Dr. Heidi Stout, the executive director of Tri-State, said the hawk's prognosis is "guarded." The bird underwent surgery Thursday and is still receiving treatment.

Reverand has high hopes for the hawk, but is realistic that it might have to be put down or might never make it back into the wild. He hopes that if the bird recovers, it can be released back in Stevensville.

"The prognosis of a red-tailed hawk with a broken wing is serious," he said. "This organization is giving this animal every chance in the world."

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/12/29-38/Good-Samaritans-help-injured-red-tailed-hawk.html

Alison · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2009, 19:37 »

Massachusetts: Hawk found injured in Provincetown recovering at Wild Care

PROVINCETOWN - A wounded young male red-tailed hawk (pictured below) who was found in a bird coop on Sal and Josephine Del Deo’s property off Atkins Mayo Road late Saturday afternoon is on the mend.

The hawk was rescued by Dennis Minsky and brought to Wild Care, Cape Cod’s emergency wildlife clinic on the Eastham-Orleans border. The hawk had raided the bird coop, killing and eating a duck. When he attempted to escape, he flew into a wall and ruptured his crop, resulting in a three-inch wound to the skin and muscles of his neck. Feathered duck flesh was protruding from the rupture site.

Wild Care’s team of rehabilitators stabilized the hawk all day Sunday. On Monday morning anesthesia and surgery to repair the rupture site was donated by Dr. Louise Morgan of Brewster Veterinary Hospital. Now on a diet of soft food and antibiotics, the hawk is recuperating well and is expected to recover fully, reported Lela Larned, director of Wild Care.

This is only the second poultry casualty the Del Deos have seen in their 50 years of having a coop, Larned said.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/provincetown/news/x1802479243/Hawk-found-injured-in-Provincetown-recovering-at-Wild-Care

Alison · « **Reply #2 on:** November 28, 2009, 22:31 »

Poisoned Red-Tailed Hawk Released Back To Wild

REPORTER: A tender moment between Joe the electrician and Josephine the rehabilitated hawk. A reunion that took 5 months to happen. Back in June, Joe, an electrician at Northampton County Community College, and ardent animal lover, spotted Josephine for the first time, struggling on a corner of the college campus.

JOE HOMAY/JOSEPHINE'S RESCUER: "She didn't look right. I didn't think it was right that a bird of prey would corner herself."

REPORTER: He quickly called the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, where Barbara Miller is a capture transport specialist.

BARBARA MILLER/POCONO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER: "Red tailed hawks are nature's perfect rodent killers. She would eat close to a thousand rodents a year. But she was almost killed by a little bit of rat poison that at most would have eliminated one mouse."

REPORTER: Miller does not know where Josephine ingested the rat poison. She and her team worked quickly to flush the poison from Josephine's body. Today, Josephine flew back into the wild, winning the hearts of everyone who gathered to watch.

JOE HOMAY/JOSEPHINE'S RESCUER: "It's a great feeling that I made a difference in her life, I hope she lives a long, safe and healthy life now."

REPORTER: Joe continues to make a difference in animals' lives, presenting the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center with a check for $100.

BARBARA MILLER/POCONO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER: "She is the healthiest strongest red tailed hawk I have ever seen. And the fact that she is very healthy is being witnessed by the local crows who aren't really happy to see her back."

REPORTER: Unlike Josephine's competitors, Joe is thrilled to know Josephine is now free to fly.

link to source: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1304456
The video: http://wfmz.img.entriq.net/htm/PopUpPlayer-v3.htm?articleID=1304456&v=a

Alison · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2009, 23:49 »

Another sad loss today: Shasta, a resident Red-tailed Hawk at Wild Wings, who was almost 25 years old.

A tribute to Shasta from the site:

It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you that our beloved Shasta has passed away. At almost 25 years old, Shasta educated many people throughout the years at countless programs. I would often say he more than earned his rats. Shasta without a doubt had the sweetest demeanor for a red-tailed hawk and anyone who had the privilege to work with him, loved him.

We fondly called him Shasta Doodles or Mr. Peepers. He “peeped” daily, never missed a meal and was visited often by a wild female red-tailed hawk. In his later years, he lost a lot of his feathers and appeared to have “Mohawk” style of feathers on his head. These lovable unique traits made Shasta so endearing.

He was fortunate enough to spend his last days outside in beautiful fall weather, flapping his wings, calling his girlfriend, and taking in the sunshine’s warmth. Sadly though, his heart gave out on November 18th, 2009.

For those of us who choose to work with animals, it is inevitable to feel this terrible sadness. Shasta had a wonderful life surrounded by people who cared and loved him daily. For all of you, whom through the years, adopted Shasta or made a donation to Wild Wings, thank you for making his life better and allowing him to eat so well and have phenomenal care. We are so very grateful.

Fly free now Shasta and call to all the red-tails in the skies. You will be forever loved, missed and remembered.

“Somewhere over the horizon and beyond the farthest shore, the spirits of our departed friends in peace eternally soar.”

Back in 2007, Shasta found a girlfriend: http://www.wildwingsinc.org/store.asp?pid=19516