This is a revised version from the one I sent out to some of you
yesterday - look for the link to photos at the end... :-)

-----------------------

A friend called Friday morning, hoping I could help with a bird
emergency. A raptor had flown hard into a second-story window on
their house, was knocked down (but not out) to their patio below.
Theresa and her college-age son Evan went quickly down to the patio
and kept watch on its recovery for a half-hour or so. The stunned
bird just sat there. They called a local rehab facility and, because
the center was too strapped for time and personnel, they could only
suggest that Theresa and Evan carefully place it in a box and bring it
to them. They tried this, but the bird flew up into a lilac bush/
tree, where it stayed for about another 1 1/2 hours.

The bird didn't flinch or try to fly away when they got near it. It
was perched on an eye-level branch, so Evan was able to get a few
photos of it, which he sent me for ID purposes. That was when I
figured out that they had an accipiter hawk, and, after speaking with
a local raptor researcher about the bird, figured that it was likely a
Cooper's Hawk, which was later confirmed. I had initially thought
perhaps it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, but apparently it would be very
unusual to see that species in urban areas of Seattle at this time of
year. Soon the physical characteristics of this bird showed that it
was, indeed, a Cooper's Hawk, a juvenile.

Luckily, the researcher was able to go over to their Queen Anne house
within 20 min. of Theresa's calling him. And then it was time for an
amazing experience for Theresa and Evan. While the bird was
distracted, the man approached the bird from behind, and was able to
reach up slowly toward it, and firmly, but gently, pick it off the
branch it was on, without any struggles.

Examination of the bird in hand showed no obvious physical problems -
one slightly mussed-up tail feather was the only visible issue; no
broken or displaced wings nor obvious damage to head, eyes or neck.
The bird was very alert and responsive and seemed to have good wing
strength on flapping. The researcher then weighed, measured and
banded the bird with a USGS band (aluminum) on one leg and a coded
color band (also aluminum?) on the other leg. It seemed a seamless
process to Theresa and Evan. They were in awe of how deftly the man
handled all of this.

After a follow-up call to the rehab facility, it was agreed that the
bird should be released at that time. The three people took the bird
over to the nearby park where the researcher had previously observed
an active Cooper's Hawk nest. He believed it likely that this bird
was from that nest and determined the park to be the best location at
which to release it. The bird was let go and "whoosh", it was soon in
a tree, moving up a few branches. It was still perched while the
three people below walked happily away.

Such an inspiring experience for Theresa and Evan - besides that the
bird flew free, these non-birder folks were also so pleased that they
learned so much from the raptor man during this event. This incident
has likely tweaked in them a bit more interest in birds - a good
thing! At least Evan now will have a nice album of Cooper's Hawk
images for his photo gallery!

What a successful mission and wonderful life moment! It was nice for
me to share this vicariously, but, as with most things, "you had to be
there", I'm sure!

Kudos to Theresa, Evan and the bird man and I'm glad I could help, as
well. And my best wishes to the young Cooper's Hawk, for a speedy
return to its regular routines of its life.

Barb

P.S. Thanks to Theresa, Evan and the raptor guy for helping me edit
this post - this process showed me how difficult it must be to be a
reporter and "get things right" with and how important it is to be
mindful of all views. Those of you familiar with my writing styles,
may have noticed a sense of restraint in this writing! - it was a good
exercise for me to tone things down (at least a bit), with help from
the others!

----------------------------------

Evan Shay is gracious enough to share these excellent photos he
snapped of this event - at his request, I have put them on my new
Flickr account with all rights reserved. Click on this link to see
the set "Cooper's Hawk Release and Relief": http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvAo2n6

----------------------------------

Barb Deihl

North Matthews Beach - NE Seattle

barbdeihl at comcast.net
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