PAWS Magazine

Issue 64, Summer 2006

New Beginnings

On March 18, Red-tailed Hawk 06-0246 arrived at PAWS after being found, weak and disoriented, by a concerned citizen. Staff found bruising on her neck and abdomen, and she was bleeding. She was also extremely anemic and in shock, and X-rays showed she was carrying a large egg. It was clear that in her frail condition, the hawk would be unable to lay her egg. The most pressing need was to stabilize the hawk; the egg would have to wait.

After several days of care the bird was still extremely weak, so PAWS wildlife veterinary staff undertook a delicate, surgical procedure to remove the egg. Sadly, the egg could not be saved, but the hawk quickly gained strength.

On her release back into the wild on May 9, the fully recovered hawk took flight and landed in a fir tree. She perched quietly for several minutes as a variety of bird alarm calls emanated from the nearby vegetation. Eventually, the former PAWS patient again stretched her wings and headed toward a distant stand of tall trees, hopefully heading toward her mate. She had lost her egg and spent much of the breeding season recovering, but she was alive, strong and healthy. Although she and her mate would likely raise no young this year, they would now have a chance to try again in the future.

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