Yesterday I left work early (for a change) and was driving home from an errand. The suburban area of NOLA has all manner of wildlife which personally I find wonderful. We have the usual urban critters like raccoons and opossums but lots of different kinds of birds. These include mallards, cranes, song birds as well as raptors. There is one eagle nest in the area. There are owls as well a lot of hawks. Mostly red tailed and pygmy hawks but they live in the area. Their prey squirrels and other birds are quite plentiful.
On my way home I was a on street that is a 4 lane divided street that is a main egress point for the area. The traffic can be both plentiful and fast moving. But yesterday there was not much traffic and as I drove along I saw a raptor in the street (first photo) so changed lanes and slowed down to make sure it saw me and I did not hit it when it flew away.
I drove up to it and to my surprise it did not fly away. So I stopped to take its picture thinking it would soon fly. Instead it simply looked at me. There was no traffic coming so I got out the car to get a better picture of it flying away but alas it simply did an about face and walked over to the lawn of a nearby house.
At that point I realized there was likely a problem.
So I pulled over and walked towards it thinking it would either fly away or it was injured or sick. It did not fly away instead it simply stood there.
Now I like raptors (obviously) and I could have simply gotten in my car and left it to let nature take its course....
Instead I phoned a contact and asked for assistance. This person dispatched a unit to safely try to catch the bird and bring it to a local rehab. After a short wait assistance showed up. I assumed the bird if healthy would fly away all the while flipping us the bird. Instead it just stood there and he was able to use a capture net to safely and gently corral the bird. It offered no resistance which indicated to me either shock, exhaustion or illness.
The bird is now safely with a raptor rehab group for assessment with the end plan being release back into the wilds of suburban NOLA.
It looks like a full grown red tailed hawk but I am not an expert.
Awesome story.
There's a show called Northwoods Law and they've dealt with injured hawks like that.
One time a long time ago we had a Red Shouldered hawk couple build a nest in the top of one of the slash pines we have here in my neighborhood. My dogs and I would walk near it everyday but it was so high in the top of the pine that I thought I'd probably never see the chicks due to the angle. 40-50 ft up maybe.
Well one day I was walking my two dogs, Yellow Lab mix and Catahoula Leopard Hound mix, with my neighbor and his two dogs when my Lab stops and points. Right at his nose is a RSH chick sitting on the ground there. covered with white fluff feathers and all talons. Basically half bird and half feet LOL. Anyhow, I went back to the house to get the wife and a box and Mark stayed with the bird. But next thing I know he's knocking on my door and has the chick in a box.
So my wife drives it up to a Bird refuge in Riviera Beach and they took it in.
I'm surprised it wasn't injured from that fall though.
Hope it's not related to the mystery bird disease in the eastern states, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mystery-bird-disease-update-tests-have-found-some-things-that-it-might-not-be/ar-AALUD9L
A great story Raptor! I hope the bird recovers.
A few miles from me is this place: https://www.hawk-conservancy.org/
It's a lovely place to visit for a day out, provided the weather isn't too bad. The flying displays are impressive.
Definitely looks like a red tailed hawk. We have one nesting right above us. I got a video of her feeding at least 3 little hawks. She's been decimating the local bunny population. But it's pretty cool to see them.