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- Red-tailed Hawk
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- Red-tailed Hawk
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- Red-tailed Hawk
It was 21° yesterday morning and the ground was icy when I looked out the kitchen window upon waking. The last several days have been windy, snowy and rainy – horrible weather. Next to the back deck was a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) lying on the ground. What to do as the hawk was alive, but obviously very weak.
Leonard, a veterinarian, checked the hawk in place and determined that there were no gross external injuries. I had chicken thawing for lunch so Leonard force fed the hawk a few small pieces of chicken and then we left it with more food within reach. Our hope was that it would eat a little and regain some strength. With luck it was not suffering from internal injuries, disease or parasites.
I watched from the kitchen window for at least an hour as the hawk remained fairly inactive and did not appear particularly interested in the food. Leonard and I both had to get on with our day, however, I kept occasionally checking on the red-tail but never saw it eat. Eventually I noticed the hawk and all the food were gone. I searched a wide area looking for the hawk on the ground but could not find it.
I do not know if the red-tailed hawk actually survived or not. I would like to think so. Still I will wonder each time a red-tail sits in the cottonwoods near the house if it is there because of a few well-timed chicken bits.
Aw, I am sure he made it, thanks to your chicken. Good thing you had a vet handy 🙂
He probably would have been happier if I had been planning on beef for our noon meal yesterday. But I think chicken did the job!
What a crazy story. I think if the hawk was taken by a predator you would probably have seen signs of a struggle – like scattered feathers – although I suppose not if it was too weak to fight. We can hope for the happy ending, anyway!
You are right! We often see evidence of predator activity – fur, feathers! But there was no disturbance where the red-tail sat. I continue to think he made it!
I hope it did as well.
I am going to go searching for the hawk again tomorrow (was not home today) – I really want to assure myself that he made it.
What a mystery…I hope, of course, that the hawk was nourished by the chicken and flew away.
I can find no evidence that Mr. Redtail did not survive! Yes!!