Via Volunteer Mary Koher :
This red tail has made a full recovery and thus completed his journey with Soarin Hawk. It was an honor for me to rescue him, watch him recover over these many weeks, and finally be witness to his release on October 12th in memory of Paul (Tony) A. Briner.
Story via Volunteer Bridgette Mccue:
I was called out for a rescue in Ligonier Indiana. There was a turkey vulture in need of our help, the caller had confined the turkey vulture into a side section of their barn. When I got there it was sitting on a stack of wood about 6 feet tall. While attempting to get the turkey vulture, it fell behind that stack of firewood. After a lot of hard work, we were able to get it out from behind the stack of wood. We put it into the blue box for transport and headed to Pine Valley Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Pat was able to do x-rays on it, and she found fractures on his left wing. It was then transported to the ICU for some intensive care.
Initial exam by our avian veterinarian: This is a very large Turkey Vulture...almost 4 1/2 pounds! It was a good weight and very feisty! The left elbow was swollen and did not have a good range of motion. Radiographs revealed what appear to already be arthritic changes in the elbow. We will treat her… more
Story via Volunteer Kim Westfall :
Homeowner noticed a soaked Redtail Hawk in the rain sitting in a ditch for most of the afternoon before calling the DNR. DNR contacted Jeremy Mason a State Trooper who is also a Falconer to come rescue the Redtail Hawk. Jeremy told me once he got there, the bird was across the street sitting on a fence. They approached the bird and it flew very low about 30 yards and landed in a cow pasture. He was able to throw a blanket over the bird, after a few attempts. Bird was very feisty and was trying to talon him. I met up with him and I did the initial exam. I was not able to find anything external injuries. I was a little concerned with his vision since his pupils were not responding to light like we would like them to. His weight was decent and he looked to be well hydrated. Next steps for him will be an exam by Dr. Funnell!
Intake Number : #09082018RTHA
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher :
Our rescue coordinator received a call today from one of our fellow volunteers down in Wabash County. That volunteer received a call from someone in the Salamonie office that had a report of a red tail hawk down on the ground in the vicinity of 150 South. Lynnanne arrived to find a juvenile red tail hawk down on the side of the road heading / hopping towards some tall weeds. She was able to get a sheet over the bird to contain it which enabled her to get a hold of it so that she could place it in her carrier for transport to Fort Wayne. I met up with Lynnanne at the Lutheran Hospital campus where she handed off the bird and gave me the details regarding its rescue. She thought that it appeared that the hawk was favoring a wing and wasn’t able to fly. I transferred it to my rescue box and headed north to our treatment and recovery unit. Our Vet tech, Kat, was there with her crew and as I held the bird they did their evaluation which… more
Story via Volunteer Gary Harshberger :
I responded to a call fro SHRR Dispatcher concerning and injured baby Owl in Van Buren Indiana. Upon arrival the property owners reported finding the young Screech Owl cling to the leg of a table in the yard. They said it was using the left wing in moving around but never lifted the right wing. Upon examining the bird in the field I found little movement (which Doctor Funnel says is common for the spices, they will play possum while being handled.) I also found no other injury, but the bird was somewhat protective of the right wing. The bird seemed malnourished and possible dehydrated account the extreme heat. Transport was made to Dr Funnel and the bird was given injections and fluids, and xray of the wings would be taken.
Intake Number : #09032018EASO
Update : This bird was not in our care for long and has since been released!
Dr Funnell checked this guy out this morning and after a few days rest in our treatment and recovery unit it was determined that he was ready to go home. I drove him to a wooded area just down the street from the American Red Cross, where he was originally picked up, and opened the box and off he flew. We stayed and observed him for a bit as he hopped from branch to branch going higher and higher until he finally flew off. We hope that he is a bit more careful in the future and avoids windows!
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher:
I received an early morning call from our rescue coordinator asking if I could pick up a hawk at the Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control. I arrived and was promptly taken to the back where they had a crate covered with a towel. Upon lifting the towel I saw a very frightened juvenile Coopers Hawk looking at me. I was able to reach in and gently grab… more
Story via Volunteer Louie Lee :
Mike Dobbs contacted us this afternoon saying John had a hawk on the ground at Wall Lake, in Lagrange county. I phoned John and was told the bird was now gone, possibly in a cornfield. I left my phone number and told him to contact me if the bird was found. John phoned back a short time later saying he had the bird. Upon our arrival John had the bird under a blanket, sitting on the tailgate of his truck. Examination of the hawk revealed the left ulna was broken and the wound infested with fly eggs, no maggots were found. Due to the hour, I transferred the bird to my home where the fly eggs removed, wound cleaned and bandaged. An intake card was completed and photos posted here. Keel was a two.
Intake Number : #08262018RTHA
Story via Volunteer Louie Lee :
On August 22, 2018 Soarin' Hawk received a call on a Red-tailed Hawk that had been found in a yard, two miles north of the Lagrange town limits. Upon Lana's arrival the bird was contained under a plastic laundry basket. It made no attempt to escape or defend itself. When the hawk was examined a wound was found on the right thigh area, where the skin was missing and muscle was showing. The wound was infested with fly eggs and maggots. After the wound was cleaned and maggots removed, it was coated with honey and wrapped. Due to the late hour the hawk was placed back in a rescue box and transported to the ICU the next morning.
Intake Number : #08222018RTHA
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher :
It certainly takes a village; as was evidenced by the team of individuals that it took to bring in this orphaned juvenile Turkey Vulture. Bob received a call from Linda Wilson, a rehabber. She had received a call from a homeowner who found the orphan in a very old barn on her property. Linda dispatched Tom and Shirley, who assist her from time to time, to see if they could meet up with the homeowner in Lagro, IN to assess the situation and retrieve the bird. They found a down covered juvenile turkey vulture in a corn crib on the ground beneath, what appeared to be, a nest in the loft above. It was standing on top of a very large snake skin and next to the skeleton of a vulture as well as a deceased sibling? No parents were found on the property. It is quite unusual to find a youngster covered in down at this time of the year. Turkey Vultures will be migrating south in approximately 10 weeks so we are hoping he will be ready to go by… more
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher:
It was a busy Monday for the Soarin’ Hawk rescue line and Bob called to see if I was available to pick up a hawk. I arrived at the location and after talking with the homeowners they indicated that this hawk had been seen in various locations on their property since Saturday the 11th. They thought it looked like it was having issues with the left leg. When we walked to the back of the house, there it was just sitting on their back porch. It was alert but quiet and I was able to easily get my rescue net over him. With the assistance of the homeowner were we able to extract the net from his talons. I checked the keel and he was thin; 1 ½ score and the rear talon on the left foot appeared limp and unresponsive. I placed him in the rescue box and gathered some additional information before heading north to the Pine Valley Veterinary Clinic. But before leaving they indicated that they had decided to name the bird “Billy” and would like to… more
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher:
We received a call from a homeowner indicating that a large owl was down on the ground under a shade tree on her property. The owl had been there since approximately 11:00pm on August 4th. This was in another county south of Fort Wayne so I gathered the necessary information and headed out for my 40 minute drive. I arrived to find a very lethargic, with eyes closed, Great Horned Owl who was sitting, but back on its haunches, under a tree which was very close to the road. I was able to approach it easily which told me something was wrong as Great Horn’s can be very feisty. As a precaution I placed my net over it so that it wouldn’t try to escape into the road. I was able to get a hold of its legs and get it in a position so that I could do a quick assessment. He opened his eyes at this point and they appeared to both be reactive. I checked both wings and they seemed to be ok as were the legs. The talons were not very responsive though… more
Euthanasia is, hands down, the most difficult aspect of my job as a raptor technician. It never gets easier. As a veterinary medical professional, I find it extremely difficult at times to find a balance between becoming overly emotional and aloof. If I invest too many emotions into a euthanasia I am not able to properly provide adequate medical care to a sick bird. If I am cold and detached I risk losing the part of me that makes me compassionate. The one thing I always keep in the back of my mind is these birds are no longer feeling any pain. I was able to end their suffering and give them a chance at peace. To me, every life is precious and sacred. I will never take that for granted.
Euthanasia is a Greek word meaning “good death.” This concept means to end an animal life without them feeling any pain or suffering. I euthanize birds for a variety of reasons: non-repairable fractures, injuries they will not recover from and that impair their quality of… more
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher:
I was out and about this afternoon when Bob called me asking if I could get another bird. This one was sitting against the barrier wall between the east and westbound traffic on the I69 / HWY 14 overpass; it was in the westbound lane. Knowing that area I was a bit concerned for my safety in trying to retrieve the bird as that is a very high traffic area and if it were still on the overpass there is really no safe place in which to pull over. I asked Bob if he could call the Fort Wayne police department to see if they could send an officer to assist with traffic control and he said he would. I arrived on the scene about 10 minutes later and did not see the bird on the overpass. I was getting ready to turn around to see if he made it over to the eastbound lane when I spotted him. He had moved to the grassy area by the exit ramp. I was able to safely park on the shoulder and set about getting my net, gloves and rescue box and headed down… more
Story via Volunteer Mary Koher:
I was out and about when I received a call from Bob stating that a lady had just picked up a hawk on Hillegas Road and he wondered if I could meet up with her. I met her in the parking lot of the Three Rivers Wesleyan Church which is just down the way from where she found the bird standing off to the side of the road. She indicated to me that she thought it was a juvenile as there was another hawk soaring in the air above screaming at her! She did not have any gloves and unfortunately was taloned while rescuing it. She didn’t have a box so she just put the bird in the back of her car. When I went to get it, it had moved itself to the ledge between the seat and the rear window. It immediately went into its defensive posture so I was able to easily grab it by the legs and remove it from the car. It was an adult red tail hawk and I told her that the one screaming might have been its mate. I couldn’t do a field assessment as it had such a… more
Via Volunteer Mary Koher:
Our rescue coordinator received a call early this afternoon from a lady stating that she observed a hawk on the ground on Ardmore Avenue in the southwest part of the city. There is a walking path that runs alongside the road and as she was walking on this path, she noticed a large hawk standing right next to a fire hydrant. She got to within 10 feet of it and it didn’t move and didn’t seem to be acting normally. I arrived on the scene approximately 20 minutes after receiving the call from Bob and sure enough, it was still standing next to the hydrant! I parked on a side street and walked back on the path to the hydrant. The hawk was very alert but quiet. I was able to distract its attention with my feet so that it didn’t notice that I was lowering my net over its head. I was then able to reach under the net to secure the feet and then bring it up and out. I found no obvious injuries but the keel was thin so it had been on the ground for some… more
Via Volunteer Mary Koher:
It has been a busy time for Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control in picking up raptors for us. We got a call today where they found this juvenile red tail hawk just standing in someone’s back yard in the northeast part of the city. I picked up the hawk from their facility and transported it to Dr. Funnell at our ICU. The eyes were reactive and the wings, legs and talons all appeared normal. It was very thin, however, so it must have been down on the ground for some time. It was given subcutaneous fluids and was tube fed carnivore care, which is a liquid food supplement. We are cautiously optimistic because when birds are very thin / emaciated it is oftentimes difficult to get them back to a healthy status.
Update 7-21-18 - Despite our best efforts, this bird developed signs of neurological problems and was humanely euthanized.
Intake Number : #07192018RTHA
Via Volunteer Mary Koher:
I received a call from the rescue coordinator stating that the Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control had picked up a hawk and had it at their facility. I arrived to find a juvenile Coopers hawk in a pet carrier. With their assistance, I was able to remove it and place it in a rescue box and then headed up north to deliver it to Dr. Funnell at the Pine Valley Veterinary Clinic. The bird was quiet but very alert. Coopers are never quiet so we knew something was wrong with it. It had a very good keel score so it hadn’t been down very long. Both eyes were reactive and the wings, legs and talons appeared to be fine. Dr. Funnell will be taking radiographs later this afternoon.
Update from Dr. Funnell – This hawk was found to have a fractured pelvis which should heal well so we are hopeful for its return to the wild. He was taken to our ICU for rest and recuperation.
Intake Number : #07182018COHA
Via Volunteer Louie Lee:
On July 17, 2018, Jeffe was driving home from a fishing trip with his children. Near the intersection of CR 425 W. and 50 N., they found an adult Red-tailed Hawk, feeding on road kill. The hawk refused to fly and its right wing appeared to droop. Jeffe easily contained the bird and took it home, where I met him. I could not find obvious injuries. The keel was thin probably a 1-2. It was alert and aware of its surroundings. I explained what we do to the five or six children that were very interested in our group, the oldest being about eight. I also identified a Flat Fly, that the oldest was trying to kill on my forearm. After the fifth slap she administered, I explained they were very tough. I also gave out our business cards to several people. Due to the late hour, I took the bird home overnight, powdered it for Flat Flies and took it to the ICU, releasing it to Gigi for triage. Jeffe and his children are very interested in the bird's release,… more
Via Voluneer Mary Koher:
The rescue coordinator called me to see if I could meet someone at the Menards on US27 south in Fort Wayne. They were transporting a bird from the Portland Veterinary Clinic in Portland, IN. I met Jasmine at Menards and she had a juvenile Coopers Hawk in a box. He was found at the Paradise Point campground located between Redkey and Portland, IN. I further transported the bird to our ICU where he was found to be very thin and had flat flies which were removed. He was powdered with poultry powder to take care of any that might have been missed. His eyes, wings, talons and feet checked out ok. We will never know why he was found on the ground. Perhaps since he was a juvenile he was not yet adept at hunting.
Update 7-18-18 : Despite our best efforts, this little hawk was found dead in his pen today. When they come in very thin / emaciated it is oftentimes very difficult to get them back to a healthy status.
Intake Number : #… more
Via volunteer Beau:
I received a call around 6:20 p.m. Thursday July 5, that a red-tailed hawk had been sitting under a tree at a local business all afternoon, in the same spot, appearing never to have moved.
I arrived at 6:40 p.m. to see the bird quietly sitting under a tree. I grabbed a small sheet out of the carrier, slowly I walked towards the bird. The bird moved approximately 2 feet in front of me and stopped; at that point I was able to drape the sheet over his back, take hold of him, and place him in the carrier. He remained calm during the ride to ICU.
Immediately I took him to the Soarin’ Hawk ICU unit. After a thorough examination it was determined that he was severely dehydrated and emaciated. Fluids were immediately administered with a soft diet to follow in the next couple of days
It was determined that we could be working with a much older bird due to what appeared to be a previous wing injury. Dr. Pat was there to examine as… more