10-17-2006   

  We were able to release 2 hawks on October 13th and have some pictures of the release.  First, we have some news about other critters currently at W&F.  Remember the little beaver being bottle fed from the previous page?  We still have it and it has grown considerably and is now eating solid food.

   We also have a young Trumpeter Swan that was shot as it flew overhead.  Here's Amy with an armful of swan after a session with the x-ray machine.

  This swan is one of this year's crop and was migrating for the first time when it was shot.  When it fell out of the sky one of its parents circled around and landed near it and wouldn't leave it.  The DNR captured both of them thinking that they were both injured.  When Dr Deb found out the parent wasn't injured it was taken back to the area where it was captured and released again.  This picture was taken just as the young one was put back in the cage with the parent.  Unfortunately, it looks like the young one has too much damage to its wing to be released so it will probably wind up in a breeding program someplace.

  This Long Eared Owl had better luck after suffering a concussion from a collision with a car.  It is recovering nicely and will be released in the near future.

  And now, on to the hawks.  The first hawk to be released was a Cooper's Hawk.  It was brought to us missing all of its tail feathers.  After spending enough time with W&F it now has a fine crop of new feathers and is ready to be on its own again.  It looks ready to go.

  Sandy won the privilege of releasing the hawk when she purchased a raffle ticket.  After getting some pointers from Dr Deb she was ready.

  And away it goes!

  Next was the Northern Harrier, sometimes called a Marsh Hawk.  Is this a pretty bird or what?  This is the same bird that's in the picture on the main page.

  Up, up, and away........

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jl