I got a call from a neighbor that there was a raptor allowing them to approach close enough for Russ to throw a towel over it and pick it up. So I brought a kitty-carrier and a towel and the camera (of course
) and went to check it out.
It was a young hawk, probably female from the large size, seemed pretty healthy but didn't snap, didn't squawk, didn't fly much--although when I first got there, she flew about a hundred feet and landed low in a tree. Had no problem gripping the branch.
Russ's theory was that the bird had eaten too much and was too stuffed to fly. Turned out to be right on the money!
First year birds often have a rough time of it after Mom stops feeding them. This one just happened upon the neighbors who could supply it with free meals--they butcher their own meat...they did a steer last week, they've been doing deer all season (bow and gun), and they're doing a pig today. They put the offal out for the wildlife...and Ms Hawk here, or "Dove" as I called her because she was so docile
, found the offal pile. She is literally too stuffed to move.
Just to be sure, I made sure her pupils were normal, handled her wings a bit to make sure they were intact, checked her breathing, checked for wounds...nothing out of the ordinary. I would have checked her keel for fat, but somehow, getting fingers in front of the beak was just a tad intimidating to hazel.
Anyway, I hope she catches on to the fact that food isn't always so plentiful. She's gonna need to start chasing bunnies and catching her own soon...
Although it kept me from being productive at home this afternoon, I must say it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
Just thought I'd spread the wealth with a few pics...