Hawkwatch International - Where Do Canadian Ferruginous Hawks Winter?

Hawkwatch International - Where Do Canadian Ferruginous Hawks Winter?

: Blog by Jesse Watson In early October we blogged about the Ferruginous Hawk project one of our biologists has been involved with in southern Cana...

Ferruginous Hawks winter 2017 Paul Ayala and Pamela Rose Hawken (West County Hawks photo pool)

Jenner's Hawk Hill. (Jenner Headlands Raptor Migration Project)

Jenner's Hawk Hill a photo diary of the Jenner Headlands HawkWatch at the Jenner Headlands Preserve in partnership with The Wildlands Conservancy and Sonoma Land Trust.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY: Ferruginous Hawk recovers after crash with model airplane

SANTA CLARA COUNTY: Injured hawk recovers after crash with model airplane

 

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. (KTVU) - At the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, an unusual patient has taken up temporary residence.

An injured adult male ferruginous hawk was checked in on Valentine's Day.
"The species is rare for our hospital to receive. We actually haven't had one come in in close to 20 years," said Ashley Kinney, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist, Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley.

The circumstances were even more unusual.
"Definitely unusual. We've never seen this happen," said Kinney.
The accident happened at the Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark in Morgan Hill.
Michael Luvara, president of the Tomcats group that uses the park said via email that it was "purely an accident," and no other injuries were reported. He also said the wingspan of the model plane was about 4 feet.

According to rescuers, the pilot of the model plane feels terrible, and a ranger was called in to help the injured bird.

The bird was transferred to WCSV, where rescuers put a sling on its left wing.
"It's a fractured ulna of the left wing, so it's a fracture just right above the elbow, and it was luckily a clean fracture so no surgery was needed -- just stabilization," said Kinney.
Rescuers said the bird is an adult male ferruginous hawk with a wingspan of nearly 4 1/2 feet. The bird is now recovering in a small box that prevents him from flying or thrashing around too much.
It remains unclear why the accident may have happened. "Whether he was protecting his territory, thinking it's another bird coming into his territory, or just a freak accident and the plane maneuvered into the bird, we're not 100 percent sure how it happened," said Kinney.
Rescuers said they expect the hawk to make a fully recovery, and that they anticipate being able to release him back into the wild in Morgan Hill in a few weeks.

 

Last Raptor Identification Hike of the 2013/2014 Year.

West County Hawk Watch team had their last scheduled hike of the year today.  Again, we are reminded why we wrap things up in March.  Not a lot of bird activity, although highlights of the trip included a barn owl (in the barn!), a nesting Great Horned Owl, and great looks at a Ferruginous Hawk who seemed to follow us back to the ranch.  Beautiful sunny day out there and I think a great time was had by all.  Thanks to Larry for an awesome year and continuing to spread the raptor fever!

photos copyright Y. Motherwell. 2014

Ferruginous Hawk, juvenile

Ferruginous Hawk, juvenile, originally uploaded by bp250.

the FeHa.