Our new nest has windows, doors, walls, utilities, and - oh yes! - a raptor weather vane! Moving day is getting closer! Stay tuned!
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"Nature is the source of all true knowledge.
She has her own logic, her own laws,
She has no effect without cause
nor invention without necessity
.”
-
Leonardo da Vinci
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SOARIN' HAWK ON THE ROAD: RAT KILLER
by Jan McGowan
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“Rat Killer” was among the guests at the July 16 Soarin' Hawk program at the Fremont Public Library. A foot-high stuffed Bald Eagle, he was accompanied by his owner, a bright-eyed, dark-haired boy about 5 years of age. Also attending were the boy’s older sister, eighteen other children, and twenty-six adults.
The Fremont Public Library boasts an impressive presence for a town of its size. The audience that attended the Soarin' Hawk event did as well.
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COME AND SEE US IN AUGUST!
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August
1 - Chain o' Lakes State Park - 2355 E CR 75S, Albion, IN - 3:00pm
August 2
- Churubusco Public Library,116 N. Mulberry St, Churubusco, IN - 10:30am
August 9
- Harry Potter Night at Parkview Field, Fort Wayne, IN - 5:15pm
August 9
- Mihsihkinaahkwa Pow Wow, Morches Park, Columbia City, IN - 6:00pm
August 10
- Mihsihkinaahkwa Pow Wow, Morches Park, Columbia City, IN - 10:00am
August 10
- Huntertown Heritage Days Educational Program - Huntertown Family Park, Woods Road - 2:00pm
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August 11
- Promenade Park, Auer Lawn, Fort Wayne, IN - 10:00am
August 11
- Promenade Park, Sweetwater Band Shell, Fort Wayne, IN - 2:00pm
August 16
- Kekionga Festival, Riverside Park, Decatur, IN - 10:15 & 11:45am
August 30
- Marshmallow Festival, Kenney Park, Ligonier, IN - 6:00pm
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Back in 2016, a crew from the Indiana Department of Transportation found a little owl huddled in the median of I-69. They quickly realized she had been hit by a car and was gravely injured. The crew foreman moved his truck to protect her from traffic and, while his crew continued to work, he sat with the little owl until Soarin' Hawk arrived.
Now, three years later, on July 9, Indy was reunited with the special man who saved her life.
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WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!
Soarin' Hawk received a wonderful letter from Katy, including a generous donation. We're so happy and proud that Katy enjoyed our educational program that we wanted to share her letter with you. Thank you, Katy for your thoughtfulness and generosity!
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CELEBRATING GENEROSITY
Thanks to July's donors!
The Foellinger Foundation, Lincoln Financial Foundations, Walmart, and all of "the Regulars," who make recurring donations every month, year in and year out.
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RESCUE OF THE MONTH
by Ron Sides
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It took two trips to the Diamond Lake area northwest of Albion, IN to get help for this young red-tailed hawk. The bird appeared to be around 2 years old.
The first land owner, Scott Pound, saw the bird in his yard, but he didn't have a way to contain the bird, so by the time I got there it had crossed the road and gone into a wooded area. I tracked it, but could not find it.
The next day, Kim Hoover, a neighbor who lives about 1/4 of mile away from Scott, saw the bird in the connecting woods. She placed a blanket over it, and I was able to pick it up and place in a carrier.
The bird appears to have a broken right wing and a large knot where the break is. Thanks Scott Pound and Kim Hoover for your help!
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DID YOU KNOW?
Our web site has a search bar! Want to follow a bird that we've rescued? Find out about events? Looking for an old newsletter? Want to volunteer? Simple. Just go to
soarinhawk.org
, find the search bar (in the upper right corner), and enter your search terms (for example, great horned owl 2018).
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CAN WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
Eagle Parents Raise Baby Hawk
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In 2017, all eyes were on an eagle's nest in Vancouver, B.C., after nest-watchers discovered that the parents were raising a red-tailed hawklet alongside their three baby eaglets.
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Photo: Smithsonian Magazine
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YET ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING!
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On June 4, 2019, the Soarin’ Hawk rescue line received a call from a homeowner in Rome City, Indiana. An owl had been sitting on her porch for more than four hours. Upon arrival, rescuer Lana discovered a little barred owl, and was able to approach and pick him up without much resistance (but the bird did retain possession of Lana’s glove as she placed him in a carrier).
The owl was transported to Pine Valley Veterinary Clinic for an exam by Dr. Funnell, who noted that the bird did not react to stimuli, which brought concerns that he had vision problems.
After about a week in our intensive care unit, he was moved to our rehabilitation facility. Because he did not have all of his adult tail feathers, we had to wait for them to come in before we could determine his ability to fly. In addition, concern persisted about potential vision problems.
After a month in rehab, he had new tail feathers and could fly, his vision problems had dissipated, and he was able to catch live prey so,
on July 20, 2019,
he was released by Pam near the residence where he was found.
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TWO MORE HAPPY ENDINGS - OF A DIFFERENT KIND
by Jillian Price and Jeanette Wood
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On Tuesday, July 16, two of our non-releasable Screech Owls started life in their new permanent home at the St. Louis Zoo. We met Anne and Sydney, two of their zookeepers, half-way, at a lovely rest area. The Screech Owls were on their best behavior. We had some time to spend with them at the rest area to say our good-byes.
Their new homes include real plants, tree branches and plenty of cover for times when they want some privacy.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who treated, trained, and watched over these two beautiful souls. We all wish they were able to be in the wild on their own, but they have found a home and wonderful new keepers. Long life, little ones!
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The amazing feather. When combined, they provide insulation, waterproofing, a means of identification, and lift. Most of us think of feathers as originating with the flighted dinosaurs, but fossil evidence suggests that they may have evolved millions of years before the first bird of record, and maybe even before the dinosaurs themselves.
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CONSERVATION CORNER
Be the change...
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GRRRRR! Weeds!
What's a Gardener to Do?
Anyone who has a garden, flower beds, or other landscaping knows the frustrating resilience of weeds. Sometimes it feels like we're living in a cartoon: We pull one from one place, and another pops up somewhere else. Many of us use products that contain glyphosate, a dangerous chemical that has been shown to cause cancer in humans, pets, and other animals, including wildlife. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
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Video: Cornell Lab Bird Cam
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WHAT'S UP WITH THE BABY KESTRELS?
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We have wonderful news this month! The little kestrels - 4 males and 1 female - have all fledged, and are on their own!
After spending some time at our rehabilitation facility, we transferred the little ones to a hack box, so we could be sure they could hunt for food. After awhile, they no longer came back to the box. Long life, little ones!
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EDUCATION CORNER
BIGGER = BETTER?
In the raptor world, females are usually bigger than males.This is unique to birds. In the rest of nature, usually the male is larger than the female of a species. What could be the reason for this unusual disparity, and is "bigger" necessarily better?
Photo: Melissa Hill
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
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We were able to help these beautiful little American Kestrel babies grow and learn to live in the wild, thanks to donations from people like you. Won't you make a donation now to help us help others like these little ones? No contribution is too small!
Your donation is tax deductible.
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