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Friday, December 18, 2020

Circus Rescue

Female Northern Harrier

 Circus Hudsonius that is. A Northern Harrier. 

We found some time to do a little birding today, having mostly caught up on errands and shopping. We traveled some of our best winter roads, up Lynk St. down Brand Rd. and then home via Hall and Borden Roads.

It was as we were climbing the spectacular hillscapes on Hall that I saw something on a clump of dead grass at the side of the road. I thought it was debris shoved up by the plows and didn't react until we were past. 

However, there were bright green eyes staring back at me.


Hall Rd.
You can see why northern raptors love this area

Long story short we drove back, turned around and sidled up slowly for a better look, snapping many photos as we went.

What we were seeing was a female Northern Harrier, but we thought she was sitting on prey, too cropful to fly.

However, as we drew closer we realized that she was injured...at least a broken wing, probably more. 

We had to leave her as we had to get home so Ralph could do some chores before full dark, but I called DEC right away to report her situation. Within minutes an officer was on the phone for more detailed directions to her location, and within half an hour she was on her way to a rehabber who specializes in raptors.

 Isn't she just the most beautiful thing? I hope she can be saved.



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6 comments:

  1. Ontario Wanderer7:30 PM

    Beautiful bid! I helped rescue a Red-tailed Hawk a few months ago. It did survive and was let go to fly free again. Glad to know that there are caring people out there.

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  2. Denny1447:57 PM

    Good for you for calling it in. She probably wouldn’t have survived for long.

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  3. Earl9:29 AM

    That makes Face book A Great thing to share today. Thank you.

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  4. Terry and Linda11:28 AM

    I am glad you found her and she is on her way to help!

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  5. Cathy4:11 PM

    Good, good people! That is one lucky bird. :)

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  6. threecollie7:26 AM

    OW, it was incredible to get such a close look at such a beauty. I had no idea that they might have green eyes. Poor girl was so stoic, but I guess that was a good thing, as the conservation officer was able to collect her very quickly. Within less than an hour of our finding her she was on her way to rehab.

    Denny, thanks, it was minus 17 the next morning and her belly feathers had lost their floof, so I expect you are right. We were so fortunate to be able to reach DEC so quickly.

    Earl, it was a very special thing for me to be able to actually help something rather than just muddling along making people that I love mad at me.

    Linda, it was a privilege to be able to do so.

    Cathy, I hope she made it. Wish I knew how to find out.

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