Raptor Rescue

Raptor Rescue at Wings Raptor Center

 Last Look -- Farewell Friend

By Anthony G. Hendricks 

           "Do you want to hold a hawk," Roger Kathy's husband asked. By a fence in the back yard distracted searching in leaves for a mouse Roger had caught the Redtail by hand. Kathy slid her hand into the glove, felt the wild beating heart. At that moment she became determined to become a certified raptor rescuer. Several years of volunteering, training, being mentored, testing, building proper buildings, buying all the equipment necessary to get inspected and approved followed.

    Used to hitting goals Kathy's honored in the Hall of Fame for basketball and track in New Jersey. Some of her records set in 1978 still stand. Just this year she became fully certified to rehabilitate raptors.   

        A friend of Cathy's saw the redtail pictured above beside the road. The hawk fell over as she drove by. Catherine stopped found the hawk near death. Catherine wrapped the hawk in a flannel shirt put it in the car and took it home. Knowing that Kathy had recently become certified to rehabilitate raptors she called Kathy. Kathy found the hawk with the flannel shirt still draped over it and head down. She picked the hawk up and brought it to her rehabilitation center. A juvenile Kathy carefully examined the hawk. Bruised on the chest probably from a vehicle, dehydrated with parasites and infection Kathy developed a treatment plan. Immediately she began the care the young hawk needed. Her first patient Kathy named him Uno. 

        A team is needed for successful rehabilitation. Below are key members of Kathy's team assembled just before Uno's release. Left to right; Caryn Oliver - Supporter; Veterinarian Elaine Burkhart; Kathy- holding Uno for final exam; Jackie Edmunds - Manager of the Dane County Wildlife Center & Redtail Banding Expert. 

 

        Many steps are needed to successfully rehabilitate a raptor. Uno had to pass through them all. First the treatment Kathy gave him brought back his strength in a few weeks. Then Uno moved from a small cage into a much larger one open to outside air. There Uno could move around begin to exercise his wings. Uno started feeding himself by moving off the perch down a ladder to get food left in a plastic bin. The next step had to be done outside with Roger's help. Uno had to prove he could fly. Put on a lead Uno flew several times before deemed fully rehabilitated. A final exam followed and banding just before release.

Ready for Flight Practice

                    When released as shown below Uno took off then landed in a nearby tree. Kathy felt a spiritual connection as Uno now vibrant and bright eyed turned his head to look at her. She snapped a picture as spontaneous tears of joy welled up in her eyes. Uno's last look a grateful thanks before returning to the wild.

Release -- Free to Soar Once More

         Wings Raptor Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. This year they raised funds by selling calendars. Multi talented Kathy not only does wildlife paintings she also gets phenomenal pictures with her camera. The great pictures of Raptors she took, meant the calendars sold out in a week. 

        As you know my friends I am a nature lover naturally just like you and the vast majority of people. The gift of turning off the news, shutting off social media and going for a walk. Outside we may hear a high piercing call, look up see a hawk high in a blue sky soaring, circling, turning into the sun, see the flash of a redtail.  In that moment our spirits can soar with that wild and free hawk. Maybe, just maybe it might be Uno a gift of Rescue - Rehabilitate - Release at Wings Raptor Center.

        Postscript --  Raptors Get Injured.

       Working on this blog at a friends home next door to Wings Raptor Center I'd just gotten off the phone with Kathy seeking more information. I'd just started to type the information into the narrative when suddenly bang. I turned to see a fairly large bird had just hit the picture window.  Going to  the window I saw the Sparrow Hawk pictured below on the ground. I could see the bird's eyes knew it was alive, but how injured was it? I immediately called Kathy back. "What now? What do I do?" She told me to get a towel and wrap the bird up and put it in a ventilated box.  She'd get it when she returned to the Center. I'd recently bought a new pair of boots. I poked holes in the box lid, found a towel and returned to the window before going out. By that time the Sparrow Hawk had recovered enough to fly off. Luckily that Hawk didn't need to be rescued. Keep your eyes open and know who to call if you see a Raptor hurt or in distress.

 

Stunned Sparrow Hawk

        

          Thank You for Joining me once again my friends. Lets stay wild in our heart of hearts. Open to witness the beauty around us.

    To contact Wings Raptor Center the web site https://wingsraptorcenter.org or call (608) 423-9565.

    Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center  (608) 838-0413.

Anthony G. Hendricks, author, poet, nature lover -- naturally;  Buddha Blues, recently published with a great cover created by his Sister Judith; available at Amazon as print on demand or as an e book at Amazon or Kobo. With formatting help on cover and interior by Woven Red. Other books The Wasteland Revisited, a book length poem about the dystopia causing global warming; available as an e book at Amazon; A Journey In The Human Dilemma, collected poetry and prose; trade paper back.