Freedom for the Red Tail

The hawk completely recovered after 5 1/2 weeks. True to her word, the bird rehabber brought the bird back to the ranch for release. Here they are getting her out of the crate.
She looks healthy and ready to go!

She's outta here!

Scoping out her new surroundings

I spotted the hawk several times afterward. I knew it was her as her tail feathers were ragged from sitting in a cage. I can only hope that almost a year later, she is one of the hawks who screeches at me when I enter the woods every morning!

Rescueing A Red Tail

Bird Rehabbing
Last winter while on my morning walk, I discovered an injured red tailed hawk. I called a local bird rehabilitator who's husband came to get the bird. He approached with a large net as the bird sat motionless. .
Much to my relief, the bird offered no resistance and he wrapped it in a towel to contain it.

A closer look at its face

The sharp talons

In you go, back to the bird sanctuary

I spoke to the bird rehabilitator several days later to see how the hawk was doing. She said the bird appeared to be a female juvenile who had an infection, probably from a bite from prey such as a squirrel. She had some blood & fluid seeping from one eye and had to be hand fed for a few days. At first she didn't hold her head quite right, but improved to feeding herself bits of mice. After several weeks of monitoring she was moved outdoors to a flight cage. When she recovered completely she was released back here at the ranch.