July 24, 2004
Chicken Hawk
It's not common that you get this close to a red-tailed hawk. We watch them soaring and calling, riding the thermals over the valley, along with ravens, buzzards, night hawks and chimney swifts. They are elusive, distant specks through the binoculars, occasionally circling just over the house, but we never see them land closer than a perch on a bare branch high up on the ridge.
This one would not have been standing on the edge of the creek yesterday, had it not been injured. Shot, most likely. Both feet were wounded, and the right wing. Was it by a neighbor, "protecting" his chickens or defending the local airspace on general principle, from a competitor for food? If so, I apologize to this beautiful bird, to his kind, maligned as all other predators are when their paths cross too close to humans living in "the country". A pity some are not willing to share the planet with those who, like us, survive by living off the death of other creatures.
Posted by fred1st at July 24, 2004 08:10 AM | TrackBackReally an excellent shot of a magnificent creature! How tragic its world and ours collided. I've seen it happen more than once and it's always the animal for which I mourn.
Right now our homeowner's association president, known on my blog as the Empress, has been having a fit about the potential of possums in the backyard. I've never mentioned the lovely family of three that dines at my ground level bird feeder about midnight and then waddles up to the pool for a drink.
Ignorance is bliss for the Empress and for my part, I have no grudges against the possums of the world. If they can cut it in this urban environment, more power to them.
Posted by: Rana at July 24, 2004 09:19 AM
We've been lucky enough to have, for the past five years or so, a large hawk's nest in a big oak near our house. Each spring the young ones are taught to fly and forage. We wonder if it's the same family year to year, or whether one group moves on and another moves in. It's a joy to watch them and to know, from their high-pitched cries, when they are near.
Posted by: Reno at July 24, 2004 09:53 AM
We have a nest nearby - haven't found it yet but a immature male Red Tail occasionally perches on our fence. The kids worry about about him snacking on the bluebirds that fledged from the nest box this week - but he doesn't pay any attention to them.
Posted by: Chris at July 24, 2004 10:24 AM
Wonder if the little guy will make it? Some areas have rehab facilities for wild birds that have been shot. I imagine without help it might be best to put him out of his misery.
Posted by: fletch at July 24, 2004 11:16 PM
Poor bird - is there a wildlife rescue centre that will look after it? Some humans really are destructive.
Posted by: Jenny at July 25, 2004 01:23 AM
In our little town, we have a licensed raptor rehabilitationist. Hopefully you can find someone in your area that does the same!
Posted by: bogie at July 25, 2004 06:49 AM