Rebekah's Rescue
Rebekah came running into the house a little while ago saying, "Mama, hurry there's an owl in our back yard!! It's on the ground. I think it's hurt!!"
Obviously, upon closer inspection it is actually a hawk. It's wing is broken. I called our "country vet" and they said they would help it if we could get it to them. "IF".
Kregg, Caleb, Joshua, Elizabeth, and Benjamin all left at 6:30 this morning to go to the deer lease. They were going to set up blinds and feeders. So the only ones left were me, Mackenzy and Rebekah. We decided the best plan, considering that beak and those talons, and the fact that he did not understand we were trying to help, was to try to throw a large towel over him and then pick him up and put him in a box. Rebekah manned the box, Mackenzy had the towel. I was a "herder". Thankfully, he couldn't make it very high off the ground, so we just chased him back and forth until an opportune moment presented itself. He finally cornered himself for us. Mackenzy dropped the towel over him, and I picked him up and put him in the box. Rebekah snapped on the lid and we were off to the vet.
Oh wow! That is so awesome! I found 3 hawks that looked similar in my book, "National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America": Sharp-shinned Hawk (female, juvenile), Cooper's Hawk (whose range is throughout the US, also female, juvenile) and Northern Goshawk, (female, juvenile)
ReplyDeleteThe only one whose range is in Texas during the summer was the Cooper's Hawk(I was thinking this was your home state). The Sharp-shinned Hawk has a winter range in Texas.
I'm not real good with identifying birds, but maybe this will help you figure it out. Love the pictures:)
What a beautiful bird. I think it's wonderful that you tried to help. I hope he is able to heal.
ReplyDeleteP31 Mom, thanks so much for the help with the ID. My 12 year old daughter also thinks, after finding pictures of some of the immature phases that it is a Cooper's Hawk. And yes, we are in Texas, so that rules out several of the other ones.
ReplyDeleteComfortably Domestic, We should hear something today from the vet. I have been thinking about the poor thing all weekend, wondering what they will do. Our kids have even suggested that if they had to amputate to keep him alive, they want my husband to build an aviary in the back yard and they would keep it. I love their hearts.
Well, the vet called. It died during surgery. Come to find out, it was a Merlin Falcon! Amazing bird, we have enjoyed researching it today. Poor Mackenzy cried when she heard the news.
ReplyDeleteAwww. Thanks for the update. Wish it had made it. I never would have guessed that it was a Merlin Falcon...guess I'll have to look that one up!
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