red-tailed hawk gets a lift from Illinois Power

Young red-tailed hawk gets a lift

page posted 11/2/2002

Jacques Nuzzo cradles a young red-tailed hawk that is gently wrapped and hooded to reduce stress. In the top photos, Illinois Power trucks lift Nuzzo and the hawk high up to the bird's new home

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Life in the wild is no sure thing, although sometimes we can give our wild neighbors a "lift."

Mortality among wild baby red-tailed hawks is about 75 percent. When raised by humans, without the help of surrogate parents or siblings, that 25 percent chance of survival is cut in half or worse.

As rehabilitators, volunteers at the Illinois Raptor Center know that a wild animal's best chance for survival is to be raised by wild parents in the wild. Any time we can match an orphan brought to our center with wild parents, we consider the battle to be nearly won.

Through our experiences, we also know that red-tailed hawk parents can't smell and can't count. Therefore, they have no idea if an extra baby has been added to their nest. Adding an orphaned baby to active wild nest seems like a simple thing to do.

Simple, that is, unless the nest is 60 feet in the air!

In cases like this, we just have to call on our friends to help. In this case it was Illinois Power Company to the rescue - volunteering men and might to help us put the baby into its new nest. And special thanks to Roger Viseur who spotted the nest and let us know it was there. Roger kindly allowed us to go on to his property to put our orphan in the nest.

With cooperation, the proper equipment and caring volunteers, the baby red-tailed hawk gladly joined its new siblings to rejoin life in the wild.

PLEASE NOTE: Don't try this at home! When it comes to raptors, especially angry parents with sharp talons - it is best to call in an expert to do the job.

Life in the wild is no sure thing, although sometimes we can give our wild neighbors a "lift." Mortality among wild baby red-tailed hawks is about 75 percent. When raised by humans, without the help of surrogate parents or siblings, that 25 percent chance of survival is cut in half or worse. As rehabilitators, volunteers at the Illinois Raptor Center know that a wild animal's best chance for survival is to be raised by wild parents in the wild. Any time we can match an orphan brought to our center with wild parents, we consider the battle to be nearly won. Through our experiences, we also know that red-tailed hawk parents can't smell and can't count. Therefore, they have no idea if an extra baby has been added to their nest. Adding an orphaned baby to active wild nest seems like a simple thing to do.	Simple, that is, unless the nest is 60 feet in the air! In cases like this, we just have to call on our friends to help. In this case it was Illinois Power Company to the rescue - volunteering men and might to help us put the baby into its new nest. And special thanks to Roger Viseur who spotted the nest and let us know it was there. Roger kindly allowed us to go on to his property to put our orphan in the nest. With cooperation, the proper equipment and caring volunteers, the baby red-tailed hawk gladly joined its new siblings to rejoin life in the wild. PLEASE NOTE: Don't try this at home! When it comes to raptors, especially angry parents with sharp talons - it is best to call in an expert to do the job.