Big Red

Tina Cook decided to travel home a different way for a change. As she rounded a corner she noticed a small group of people off to one side observing something on the ground. As she stopped and approached she discovered a large hawk standing quietly on the shoulder. Everyone decided that is was unusual for a hawk to be in this situation, on the ground and not flying away but no one knew what should be done or who to call. Some of the observers felt the bird should be left for nature to take its course. She contacted her husband, who is a teacher, so on his lunch break he was able to do some internet searching and found the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary website. Tina called immediately and we were able to instruct her in the procedure of capture. The hawk was in Ajax almost 3 hours away. If he was caught I could meet her in Orillia and transport the hawk here for help. Not more then 15 minutes later Tina called with successful news and we arranged a where and when meeting point.

The drive to Orillia was quiet, reflecting on the day and what was to come with the unidentified hawk. What would it be? What condition is it in? Injury? Starvation? So many questions. We arrived at the same time and with quick greetings opened the car to see the patient. In the large animal carrier was a juvenile red-tailed hawk. As I reached in to observe his condition I noticed that he was very calm and willing and gave no sign of fight or fear. Not usual for a wild bird. He really must be in bad shape. His wings were in good shape but the tips of his tail feathers were tattered from being on the ground for quite a long time. As I felt his chest area it told me all I needed to know. Complete starvation was his down fall. The protrusion of his chest bone was very pronounced and as I placed the bird into my carrier he was lacking in strength to even stand. The drive back seemed so long and I worried if he was going to make it.

With the constant and gradual syringe feedings of electrolytes throughout the night he started to show signs of alertness. But he still had a long uncertain road. By morning his balance was much better and he was standing up showing how big of a hawk the red-tailed really is.

Raw chicken was introduced and the look of surprise and satisfaction in those big yellow eyes at the taste of food was amusing to me. It wasn’t long before we were grabbing the meat and in clutched talons the strong sharp beak tore at the flesh. Each day showed the return of this beautiful hawk, his keen sense of sight, the power of his large talons, the length and strength of his enormous wings. Raw chicken and beef heart are good starters but they don’t provide the complete nutritional balance so mice were introduced as Big Red improved. In a large 10’x10’ wooden pen he started to hunt and fly from perch to perch. Within 2 weeks he is ready for a long flight enclosure then from there the open skies, soaring above the farm fields of the Ajax area looking for hopefully a more abundant food source. By his fast and accurate hunting skills I know that was not his problem but more the lack of food in the wild. Tina has given him the second chance needed for this big red when no one else felt it could or should be done. To see the wildness and health return in the Red-Tailed Hawk for his return to a free and untamed world is gratifying and liberating when you see and feel the strength of the wings lifting him higher and higher into the endless sky and home of the Red-tailed Hawk.