Pictures From A Very Strange Day - Nov 10, 2005

[TAWhatley]

http://www.rims.net/2005Nov10

My day started out with a hysterical phone call from a friend who
works at a nearby Montessori school. She was sobbing about
a parakeet being killed and another injured and bleeding. Once
she calmed down a bit, I was able to find out that a hawk flew
into a classroom through an open door, landed on the parakeet
cage, and taloned two of the little 'keets. One died almost instantly
and the other has a pretty nasty wound on the chest, but I think
it will be OK. I went over to the school to pick up the survivors and
look after them until my friend can pick them up after work this
evening.

As soon as I got back from the school I got a call about a wounded hawk.
I'm taking my rehabber friend's calls for a couple of days while she is
out of town, thus the hawk call came to me. A very nice lady got the
hawk in the box and brought it to me. Nothing seems broken, but
the bird has no use of its legs. The finder seemed to think it hit
a power line. Hopefully the bird just needs some recuperation time.

The duck pictures are of some of the current group here for R&R.

Brownie and friends are three pigeons reported to 911 Pigeon Alert
that have quite a rescue story behind them.

The fantails and little roller are new adoptees .. the roller and the
two large fantails from Debbie on Pigeon-Talk and the small fantail
found and rescued by a kind lady in Costa Mesa.

The two lovebirds are Tiki and Sassy that I adopted from a friend
on the Cockatoos list.

Terry

[Pidgey]

On the hawk, I'd palpate the abdomen to see if there's an indication of a hardened mass. As you've ruled out broken legs and spine, I'd also consider a kidney infection (bacterial or viral) as that can pressure the sciatic nerve.

Does this bird bite first and ask questions later or can you handle it as long as you give it a mouse to chew on in the interim?

Pidgey

[Maggie-NC]

Terry, thank you again for sharing your family pictures. I'm astonished that the hawk would fly into a schoolroom and grab those keets. I know that many times the ones we get in our yard seem fearless. Its kinda ironic that you get in the keets and then a hawk. Rehabbing doesn't play favorites, does it?

The ducks are so cute. I have never seen one with a topknot. He is very handsome.

Debbie's little fantails look happy already.

Thanks Terry

Maggie

[Trees Gray]

What an assortment of lively looking birds. Just wonderful...

Love the ducks, the pigeons, the "keets", the hawk.....

You are having another one of those very busy days, mmm??? I'm glad you have time to share the pics with us, and an explanation.

Thanks for all you do!

[upcd]

Terry, you must be busy. I really enjoyed see my little babies. they look great. Cute little hawk. What kind is he? How many love birds did you end up with. I am looking for a little boy. I have a hen sitting on 4 eggs right now. she is a peachface. Lucky keet. That Hawk must have beem desperate or belonged to someone and thought dinner was served in the house.

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Pidgey

On the hawk, I'd palpate the abdomen to see if there's an indication of a hardened mass. As you've ruled out broken legs and spine, I'd also consider a kidney infection (bacterial or viral) as that can pressure the sciatic nerve.

Does this bird bite first and ask questions later or can you handle it as long as you give it a mouse to chew on in the interim?

Pidgey

Thanks for the suggestions Pidgey .. I'm certainly no expert on hawks and am probably more than halfway afraid of them. Fortunately my rehabber friend will be home sometime tonight or tomorrow.

This one is definitely a bite first and hang on bird and does =not= like being handled in any way. I'm a wuss and wear heavy leather gloves with this one.
I will check the abdomen this evening.

Is has eaten a thawed mouse for which I am thankful. I don't have what it takes to feed live mice or chicks nor what it takes to offer a freshly killed one.

Terry

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Lady Tarheel

Terry, thank you again for sharing your family pictures. I'm astonished that the hawk would fly into a schoolroom and grab those keets. I know that many times the ones we get in our yard seem fearless. Its kinda ironic that you get in the keets and then a hawk. Rehabbing doesn't play favorites, does it?
Maggie

Hi Maggie,

Yes I found it quite ironic that right after the hawk attacked 'keets were settled in here comes an injured hawk. And, yes, you have to have compassion for both species and do your best to care for them all (at least IMO).

Apparently this is not the first classroom foray .. hawk visited a few days previous and was after the classroom cockatiel.

I'm going to bird sit all the school birds for a bit in the hopes that the hawk will move on. I've also suggested they install a screen door if they just have to keep the outside door open.

The hawk that comes to my backyard every 7-10 days is a brazen hussy and will stand her ground trying to stare me down until she sees the hose come out. Then she leaves because she knows I'm going to spray her.

Glad you enjoyed the other photos too.

Terry

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

You are having another one of those very busy days, mmm??? I'm glad you have time to share the pics with us, and an explanation.

Thanks for all you do!

Yep .. terribly busy day .. thanks Treesa!

Terry

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Terry,

Wow!, what a strange day you've had!!! All the birds are gorgeous though, beautiful

That hawk looks like either a male coopers or a male sharp shinned hawk. I can't tell because I don't know how big it is. FP, take note!

Thanks for the pictures Terry,

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by upcd

Terry, you must be busy. I really enjoyed see my little babies. they look great. Cute little hawk. What kind is he? How many love birds did you end up with. I am looking for a little boy. I have a hen sitting on 4 eggs right now. she is a peachface. Lucky keet. That Hawk must have beem desperate or belonged to someone and thought dinner was served in the house.

Glad I could show you your babies, Debbie. That little white fantail just snuggled right up with your big guys and the little roller .. way too cute to see and watch in person.

Only two lovebirds adopted .. sex unknown. My other lovebird is a flesh eating female named Mango .. any flesh will work .. human or bird or otherwise .. she is a really feisty little booger.

I'm not sure what kind of hawk this is .. chest and belly are cream colored with brown speckles .. the color of the head, back, and wings are accurate in the picture. Perhaps Brad or another of our resident raptor experts will be along shortly to tell us .. it's a pretty good sized bird.

Terry

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Pigeonpal2002

That hawk looks like either a male coopers or a male sharp shinned hawk. I can't tell because I don't know how big it is. FP, take note!

Ooops .. I see our hawk expert made a "hit and run" here while I was typing. Thanks Brad! This is a good sized bird .. very long legs and body size about twice the size of a typical feral pigeon. Pretty good weight on the bird too and very strong in spite of whatever has disabled the legs. Nasty temperament to boot!

Terry

[Pigeonpal2002]

LOL,

Sorry Terry for sneaking in there like that Well then from your description of the size, I'd say it's a male coopers hawk then.

http://www.customfalconry.com/coopershawk.htm

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Pigeonpal2002

Sorry Terry for sneaking in there like that Well then from your description of the size, I'd say it's a male coopers hawk then.

Thanks again Brad! I'm pretty sure you are correct though the coloration is still throwing me off a bit. I've got some other raptor folks having a look to see what they think.

Terry

[feralpigeon]

Hi Terry & Brad,

I can't believe the hawk has been flying into the classroom after caged birds.
Surely there must be other prey for it. Just doesn't even seem "smart" in that
the birds are caged, so how does it think it will get them out?

Anyway, I've been seeing lots of hawks lately. Saw one w/similar markings as
the last one in a tree on a center median strip to a 6 lane street in town here.
It was on the branch, twitching it's tail much the way a cat does when it gets excited. It had the stripes accross the tail and the ends of tail were squarish while sitting there. Still just not sure of kind, but I'd say about 14-16inches.

Thanks for sharing this unusual story about the hawk, I just never dreamed they could be so brazen.

fp

[Lin Hansen]

Terry - Wow, what a day! For some of the birds pictured, and for you! Those poor little 'keets must have been terrified and I can't even imagine the hysterics and pandemonium that must have occurred in the classroom with all those children witnessing the event!

Although it was a strange day, I really enjoyed looking at all the pictures. What a colorful, beautiful group of different birds.

Linda