Articles

Barred Owl Travels from Vet's office, to Lutheran Medical, and to Soarin' Hawk

I received a call from the DNR that there was an owl dropped off at a vet's office in Gas City. I made arrangements to pick it up that evening from Mary the vet, knowing I would be making the trip to Ft. Wayne the following morning for my own doctor visits at Lutheran. 

That morning, I loaded up my St. Berdoodle, Charlie, and the owl and headed north. Realizing I would be spending most of the morning and into the afternoon with my doctors, I put a call into Bob who was manning Soarin' Hawk's rescue line to see if there was someone close by who could meet me to take the bird the rest of the distance. Bob put me in touch with Mary. Mary would become part of the tag-team, and we decided to meet after my first appointment. Once I arrived at Lutheran, running too close to the appointment time to meet with Mary and knowing I couldn't trust the dog with the owl alone… more

The kind folks at the Bruner Dental Center in Fairmount IN have made a large donation to pay for the care of #02012017 Great Horned Owl.  This magnificient great horned owl has a serious eye injury. Go to this link for the latest news on this bird.

Thank You !!!

Another success story. 01132017 Cooper' Hawk was returned to his/her home today.

Check out the full story at this link

Thanks to the non-profit group Wildlife Rescue Nests for sending us these hand knit nests for our upcoming baby season! All nests are made by a network of volunteers and provide nests to wildlife rescue centers all over the world! They have sent, free of charge, nests to Canada (where the idea started), the U.S., Ireland, the U.K., Norway, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, India, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica.

This is the first year Soarin' Hawk has received nests from them and we are looking forward to using them!

http://wildliferescuenests.weebly.com

Sometimes it truly does take a village to rescue an injured raptor!  

The story began in Osceola, Indiana where an unknown concerned citizen reported an injured Cooper's Hawk Monday evening to the Osceola Police Department.  The Osceola Police Department held the bird until a local Soarin' Hawk volunteer picked it up late in the evening.  Another Soarin' Hawk volunteer from Bremen, Indiana was available the next morning to transport the bird the rest of the way to our avian veterinarian in Fort Wayne.  

Most of our volunteers hold down full time jobs, so they all work together with their available times to help get the job done!

We are always looking for volunteers in distant areas to help transport injured raptors.  Even though we are located in Allen County, Indiana, we rescue birds from the northern half of Indiana and also Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan.  Please contact us at volunteer@… more

About 1:30 on Valentine’s Day, Steve Olsen was returning home in N Manchester when he spotted three eagles standing in a field a few miles north of Lagro.

He had just had a less than successful visit to observe bald eagles at Salamoni Reservoir. He stopped by the side of the road and watched the adult and two juveniles.

The adult and one juvenile, bothered by his presence, took to the air. The remaining juvenile attempted to fly but could only hop into the air a bit.  Steve called the local CO who advised him to call Soarin’ Hawk.

After receiving very precise directions from Steve, a search for local rescuers started. The first rescuer was down with the “creeping crud” that is going around. Fortunately, the second closest rescuers were available.  After some brief instructions about safely handling eagles  because of their size and strength, Alexandra and Cynthia Forsythe left Bippus for the last known location of the eagle. Armed with an old blanket… more

One of Soarin' Hawk largest expenses is meat for the raptors. Last year the raptors in our medical treatment program consumed over 4,000 lbs of a variety of meats.   One way we save money is by being on the ‘deer hit’ list at the local sheriff departments. That means they call us whenever a deer has been hit by a car.  We all love deer, but at least this way the deer's life helps to save the life of multiple wild animals ... the raptors.

Please help us extend a big heartfelt Thank You to the the officers of the Allen County, Noble County, and DeKalb County Sheriff's Departments. With their help we have received 7 deerr so far this year! 

Today we celebrated the release of a Great Horn Owl back into the wild.  In spite of the bitterly cold wind blowing across the fields, everyone was there. The folks at WANE TV News made the trek to Whitley County to film the event. The Conservation Officers involved in the rescue were there, and of course a vanload from Soarin’ Hawk. After allowing the GHO to settle down after the 45 minute ride deep into farm country, everyone was ready.  We always give the bird time to settle down and observe where they are before we release them.  Give them time to plan their escape!  With cameras whirring, the door was opened, and nothing.  The owl sat there for a minute or two, contemplating whatever owls contemplate, then she/he was off like a rocket to the woods several hundred yards into the distance.  The owl flew straight and strong, deftly skipping over fences until it reached the safety and security of its woodland home.  We were able to observe the owl for a few minutes as it navigated… more

Received a call from SHRR Rescue Coordinator with an owl (we weren't sure of the species) down near Fairmount, Grant County. I wasn't going to have a vehicle until later in the day, and all Conservation Officers were off. I finally made my way just before dark to get the owl that had been hanging out in the caller's yard all day. The lady of the house had kept in contact with me throughout the day, letting me know the owl was capable of flight. Knowing this, I made sure there was a blanket available for capture - but I didn't let the caller know until I arrived that she would be a part of the rescue. :)

When I pulled up, the bird was visible from the drive. It looked much like a dark cat, relaxing - big, plump, ears erect. A Great Horned Owl. The caller's husband was on his way home, and timed his arrival perfectly. He and I took ends of the blanket and I directed his wife to circle around the bird so that we were at opposite sides, with the bird in… more

Our youngest rescuer ever! Young Blake went out into the horse barn with his Dad and saw this little Eastern Screech Owl after his Dad walked right by it.  At first Blake thought it was a mouse, but quickly changed his mind when he got close.  His Dad was able to walk right over and pick it up; it may have been attacked by a cat. Great job spotting this little guy, Blake!

Click Here for more about this Owl and to follow his/her recovery.

My first exam … by Mr. Bald Eagle (01162017)

Early this morning, my human care taker packed me up and drove me to Soarin’ Hawk for a veterinary exam by Dr. Pat at Pine Valley Veterinary Clinic.   I had just gotten comfortable in my travel enclosure, when someone opened the door and reached in … to do what I asked with alarm!   Clever bird that I am, I realized that if I stayed in the back, the Dr. Pat could not reach me.  Why she pondered her next move, I surprised everyone in the room when I decided to walk out into the exam room.  After a bit of excitement, I agreed to be placed on the examination table. We all know how much fun that is.

Dr. Pat placed Logan in charge of keeping me calm.  I kept my cool as they poked and prodded, knowing that they meant well.  You see, I have a badly broken wrist, with a piece of bone sticking out and all.

After the usual inspection of eyes, mouth, feet, feather and the obvious injuries, I was bundled off to X-Ray.  Something… more

01142017 Barred Owl

E-e-e-k,  e-e-e-k!   Cellphone battery dying, better recharge it.

“Atlanta, first and goal!”  Br=i-i-n-g ,  “#@&%* cellphone.”

“Soarin’ Hawk may I help you.”

“H_O_O_R_A_Y!” from the TV, what did I miss?

“I just hit an owl and I have picked it up and I am holding it on my lap.”

“Where are you?”

 “I am between Garrett and Corunna”

 “I can meet  you at Miller’s Grocery in Garrett  within 15 minutes.”

“ I guess Greenbay won’t miss my support for a few moments.”

Fortunately, Coldwater Rd was devoid of traffic and police. I reached Garrett in 10 minutes.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I spotted a woman in an SUV cradling either a very strange kid with big brown eyes and a yellow nose or an owl!

I pulled up with my window down and confirmed it was the correct person. The Barred Owl was comfortably nestled in the crook of Jean’s arm. With little struggle, I removed the bird with… more

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious Soarin’ Hawk financial matters -

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a ringing,

As of some one gently ringing, ringing on my phone

“’Tis some wrong number” I muttered, “tapping at my phone

Only this and nothing more.”

“Hi, Jody from Hamilton, there is an injured Great Horned Owl on 427. There is a police officer at the scene of the accident. Will someone get the bird?” “Of course”, I answered. Jody, “OK, I’ll call the officer and let him know.” 

 H-m-m, who lives near Hamilton and will answer a phone at 11:15 PM ?  No one!  OK, I guess,I’ll go.  “Ann, there is a GHOW near Hamilton that needs help. There is a police officer with it. There is no one to go, but me” I blurted to the recumbent figure under the bedcovers.

“What is wrong with you?” came the strong reply from the figure that bolted upright.

“… more

Another Success Story.

After 3 months of medical treatment and recovery from a severe injury, this Red-tailed Hawk was released back into the wild on January 7th.

 On Sept. 19th of this year, I got a call that there was a hawk on the ground in Hicklville, Ohio.  The man who called said that he had observed the hawk on the ground of a parking lot for several hours.  He was just standing, and not flying.  I went to pick him up, and when I approached him, he flew about 200 yards to a tree line.  I decided to follow him, and when I spotted him, he was dangling in a tree by one foot.  My husband and I used a net and got him out of the tree, and when a got a close look at him, I noticed that he had a severe injury to the outside of his left leg.  We took him to Dr. Funnell at her veterinary office, and she found that he had thousands of fly eggs in his wound.  After the fly eggs were removed from his leg, he spent about three months at a rehabber's house, getting his… more

We had a very successful release of the bald eagle on 12/31/2016 at the Howard County Veterans Campground. We were joined by about 60-70 members of the public on a very cold and windy day. When it came time for the eagle to fly, he did so beautifully and flew right over the heads of those that came to witness the release. He then continued to fly towards a group of trees, enjoying the wind and the freedom of soaring in the sky. It was a wonderful sight to behold. for more pics check out on facebook.com/soarinhawk.

For more info

For MORE INFO on his medical care and progress, check out 09222016 Bald Eagle

So on Thursday Sept. 22, 2016 I received a call from Soarin' Hawk volunteer Jennifer Lanning advising me there was a injured bald eagle in my area and asked if I could assist. So after a brief conversation and some information exchange I made contact with Indiana State Trooper Scott Meyer from district 22. Scott informed me that the eagle was on the side of SR26 just east of CR 1100E. We talked for a bit and I informed him I was on my way but it would be about 30-40 minutes before I could get there. He said he would wait on me. So I grab all my gear and headed that way. About half way there he calls me back and says the eagle had flown off. He stated it didn't look like it was flying to well but he could no longer see it. Figuring if it was injured it probably didn't make it to far I decided to go ahead and go take a look, knowing it would have a rough night if it was injured and… more

Can a hawk die from broken feathers? The answer is "yes"... if those broken feathers keep the hawk from flying. If it cannot fly, it cannot hunt  live prey and can starve to death.

This hawk was lucky because someone found it and contacted Soarin' Hawk.  Most of its flight feathers on one wing were broken. It was so emaciated and weak it was probably only a couple days away from dying.  
Treatment consists of tube feeding a gruel made for the critical care of carnivores such as Hawks.  He was fed this for two days and tonight has his first piece of meat, without bones or skin.  He readily ate!  He will be fed plain meat for a couple days then be offered whole prey. Since he is so thin, he will be kept inside until he puts on some weight.  He would not do well outside in the cold as thin as he is.  

He cannot be released until he goes through a natural molt and replaces those feathers...which could take 6 months to a year!  So he will be with us… more