Posted by Jim Hackley on November 15, 2011 at 10:46 AM
I thought I would share a Harris hawk encounter and rescue that happened to us over the veterans day weekend along with some pictures of this story.
We were driving to Saguaro West NP to go on a hike when we came upon 5 Harris's hawks surrounding a downed Harris's hawk right next to the road. It was an amazing to watch as the other hawks were prodding and poking the injured hawk to get it away from the road. They kept doing this until they got the injured hawk off the road, through the park boundary fence and into the desert. I knew that Harris's hawks would stay in family groups but it was moving to see this type of behavior. We were parked across the road so I turned our vehicle around, changed lens and started to take some pictures. The other 5 Harris's hawks were perched around the injured hawk and would let out these loud squawks and screeches as the injured hawk tried several times to get up on the fence but could not and fell back to the ground.
At this point we knew we had to do something and help, so we started to call places to report a downed Harris hawk. After talking to several people we thought help was on the way so we continued on our way to go hiking. All that day I kept on thinking about the hawk and kept on wondering how it was doing and the next morning I could not take it anymore and drove out to check on the injured hawk. To my surprise I could still see the injured Harris's hawk just over the fence in the desert. Then I started to hear and see the other Harris's hawks. They were still perched around the injured hawk and seemed to be keeping watch over the hawk. I started to make another round of phone calls but got only answering machines when I remembered an article about the Tucson Wildlife Center. I drove home and called their animal rescue number to report the downed Harris's hawk and they said they would be at the location in 1 1/2 hours. I told them I was heading back out to the location to monitor the hawk and wait for them since it was in a remote location and the hawk was slowing going further into the desert. It could not fly but was moving away from the fence line.
About an hour later I saw the Tucson Wildlife animal rescue van pull up. I reviewed the situation with them and the two staff members and myself headed off into the desert to get the hawk. We quickly spotted the hawk as it was trying to get away with short hopping flights and the hawk ended up in a thorny Mesquite tree. After 15 minutes of maneuvering and trying to get a net over the hawk one of the staff members decided to climb the tree and was able to grab the hawk and hand it safely down to the other staff member. You could tell the hawk was tired but it really did not put up much resistance and overall it looked fairly good. It appeared the left wing might be broken but we were not entirely sure. I thanked them for coming out, filled out some paper work and asked to be updated on the hawk's progress. The other day after work I found out the hawk is doing fine, eating well and that it does not have any fractures but the left wing is the problem area and they are going to start rehab and hope to release the hawk back into the wild if all goes well. It was good to hear the hawk was doing well.
11/19/2011 - I received some sad news today from the Tucson Wildlife Center that they had to put the hawk down. The email from the wildlife center is below:
Dear Jim, I have an update on the Harris hawk you rescued. On Sunday evening we noticed he was hanging his left wing and his right foot was clinched. Monday we had one of our veterinarians look at him. We discovered there was a wound developing on his left wing. We treated the wound but on Tuesday the wound had grown large and the leg was darkening. With these classic symptoms and after reviewing the pictures you had sent, we believe the hawk had an electric injury from a power pole transformer. There is no cure or humane treatment for really bad electric injuries like this one. The wing would eventually die and the leg also. He was on pain meds while we made sure of the diagnosis. We made the decision to relieve the beautiful Harris hawk's suffering with a very gently and calm euthanasia. I will notify AZ Game and Fish and the transformer will be fixed. You may be contacted for a number or specifics of where the transformer is. Hopefully this will be done soon to avoid any of the hawk's family members receiveing the same fate. We are so sorry for this news and if you have any further questions please call me.
Posted by Jim Hackley on November 15, 2011 at 10:46 AM
The first image shows the injured Harris's hawk falling from a fence railing and hanging upside down while the second image shows the other hawks keeping a watch over the injured hawk.
Posted by Jim Hackley on November 15, 2011 at 10:47 AM
The injured Harris's hawk after getting up from the fence railing fall.
Posted by Jim Hackley on November 15, 2011 at 10:47 AM
The next day I spotted the hawk still in the desert and this image was taken just before the rescue.
Posted by Barbara Graham on November 15, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Thanks for sharing this. It's a really interesting story, and I'm glad the rescue took place.
Posted by Ron Dudley on November 15, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Really an interesting series of photos Jim. Sure hope the hawk fully recovers and can be released into the wild again.
Posted by John Tobias on November 15, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Jim, great series of photos, and a great story. Hope you can keep us updated on the hawks progress. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Posted by David Graham on November 15, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Great report and series of image's, Jim.
It beautifully illustrates the familial ties in that species ( Harris' hawk). It is the only species I'm familiar with in which multiple-generational family groups participate in hunting and in rearing of the young. Some falconers have learned to fly several related Harris hawks as a group at game. Their cooperative hunting technique is amazing to see.
Such devotion to , for example, a downed nestling, of a buteo or accipiter species might be temporarily shown by one or both parents for an hour or two, but this kind of familial devotion is unique to the Harris' hawk! Absolutely astounding series of image's! I'd suggest submitting your report and image's to the Audubon Society or to the Coenell Sapsucker Woods laboratory for publication!
Dave Graham, East River, SD
Posted by Mia McPherson on November 15, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Wonderful series of images Jim, so glad you were persistent in the rescue effort. I hope the hawk recovers and is released into the wild again.
Posted by David Graham on November 15, 2011 at 12:25 PM
And oh yeah..... And notice that the trapped hawk is in adult plumage, not a young of-the-year! What a thrill to have observed this familial social grip in action. Some of these feathered dinosaurs are truly fascinating!
Thanks for sharing this good-outcome story, and thanks for getting involved. Great images, and I agree you should submit them for possible publication.
Sandy
Posted by Jim DeWitt on November 15, 2011 at 5:14 PM
You get my Good Samaritan Award of the week, Jim, Well done, well documented.
Posted by Tonia Graves on November 15, 2011 at 5:40 PM
Jim, so glad you decided to go back & check on the hawk and that everything worked out alright.
A sad outcome for sure. I know everyone tried their best to save him/her. I'm glad that it did not have to suffer a slow, painful death in the wild, but was mercifully euthanized.
Thanks for letting us know.
Sandy
Posted by Richard Ditch on November 28, 2011 at 10:51 AM
A sad ending to an amazing story. Good photos and observation - the sort of evidence meant to be in a life history of the species.
Discussion
14 repliesWe were driving to Saguaro West NP to go on a hike when we came upon 5 Harris's hawks surrounding a downed Harris's hawk right next to the road. It was an amazing to watch as the other hawks were prodding and poking the injured hawk to get it away from the road. They kept doing this until they got the injured hawk off the road, through the park boundary fence and into the desert. I knew that Harris's hawks would stay in family groups but it was moving to see this type of behavior. We were parked across the road so I turned our vehicle around, changed lens and started to take some pictures. The other 5 Harris's hawks were perched around the injured hawk and would let out these loud squawks and screeches as the injured hawk tried several times to get up on the fence but could not and fell back to the ground.
At this point we knew we had to do something and help, so we started to call places to report a downed Harris hawk. After talking to several people we thought help was on the way so we continued on our way to go hiking. All that day I kept on thinking about the hawk and kept on wondering how it was doing and the next morning I could not take it anymore and drove out to check on the injured hawk. To my surprise I could still see the injured Harris's hawk just over the fence in the desert. Then I started to hear and see the other Harris's hawks. They were still perched around the injured hawk and seemed to be keeping watch over the hawk. I started to make another round of phone calls but got only answering machines when I remembered an article about the Tucson Wildlife Center. I drove home and called their animal rescue number to report the downed Harris's hawk and they said they would be at the location in 1 1/2 hours. I told them I was heading back out to the location to monitor the hawk and wait for them since it was in a remote location and the hawk was slowing going further into the desert. It could not fly but was moving away from the fence line.
About an hour later I saw the Tucson Wildlife animal rescue van pull up. I reviewed the situation with them and the two staff members and myself headed off into the desert to get the hawk. We quickly spotted the hawk as it was trying to get away with short hopping flights and the hawk ended up in a thorny Mesquite tree. After 15 minutes of maneuvering and trying to get a net over the hawk one of the staff members decided to climb the tree and was able to grab the hawk and hand it safely down to the other staff member. You could tell the hawk was tired but it really did not put up much resistance and overall it looked fairly good. It appeared the left wing might be broken but we were not entirely sure. I thanked them for coming out, filled out some paper work and asked to be updated on the hawk's progress. The other day after work I found out the hawk is doing fine, eating well and that it does not have any fractures but the left wing is the problem area and they are going to start rehab and hope to release the hawk back into the wild if all goes well. It was good to hear the hawk was doing well.
11/19/2011 - I received some sad news today from the Tucson Wildlife Center that they had to put the hawk down. The email from the wildlife center is below:
Dear Jim, I have an update on the Harris hawk you rescued. On Sunday evening we noticed he was hanging his left wing and his right foot was clinched. Monday we had one of our veterinarians look at him. We discovered there was a wound developing on his left wing. We treated the wound but on Tuesday the wound had grown large and the leg was darkening. With these classic symptoms and after reviewing the pictures you had sent, we believe the hawk had an electric injury from a power pole transformer. There is no cure or humane treatment for really bad electric injuries like this one. The wing would eventually die and the leg also. He was on pain meds while we made sure of the diagnosis. We made the decision to relieve the beautiful Harris hawk's suffering with a very gently and calm euthanasia. I will notify AZ Game and Fish and the transformer will be fixed. You may be contacted for a number or specifics of where the transformer is. Hopefully this will be done soon to avoid any of the hawk's family members receiveing the same fate. We are so sorry for this news and if you have any further questions please call me.
It beautifully illustrates the familial ties in that species ( Harris' hawk). It is the only species I'm familiar with in which multiple-generational family groups participate in hunting and in rearing of the young. Some falconers have learned to fly several related Harris hawks as a group at game. Their cooperative hunting technique is amazing to see.
Such devotion to , for example, a downed nestling, of a buteo or accipiter species might be temporarily shown by one or both parents for an hour or two, but this kind of familial devotion is unique to the Harris' hawk! Absolutely astounding series of image's! I'd suggest submitting your report and image's to the Audubon Society or to the Coenell Sapsucker Woods laboratory for publication!
Dave Graham, East River, SD
Dave Graham
Sandy
Thanks for letting us know.
Sandy