Awesome site to take a look at. The work they do and their rehabilitation and release program is phenomenal.

Hawk Creek

LINK: Hawk Creek Wildlife Inc.

Hawk Creek is only open to the public four times a year.
We will be attending the “BIRD OF PREY DAY” on Sept. 6th!!!

Experience first-hand the techniques used by Hawk Creek's handlers to enrich the lives of over 90 raptors and other animals, and have a chance to participate for yourself! A fun and informative behind-the-scenes look for all ages.

Exquisite Raptor Photos
LINK: Hawk Creek Wildlife Center Photos

We went to Hawk Creek yesterday for their “Walk With The Eagles Day.” What an experience. They do phenomenal work with these birds and with their outreach educational programs.

As we got to each birds habitat or area we were educated about their care, the work that’s being done to rehabilitate and release them or told their individual stories of why a bird was there and why they would not be able to be released.

FYI: Generally all female Raptors are bigger than their male counterparts!

We have so many Red-Tailed Hawks in our area I had hoped to see their RTH Legend, but I missed his educational program by minutes. Legend, a male red-tailed hawk, was hit by a car and broke his wing. After three surgeries, his bones healed, but his tendons were permanently ruptured. He is now a favorite for education programs because although often seen in the wild, it is not often that people get to see this common hawk up-close.
Estimated hatch date: 5/1/91 and he arrived at Hawk Creek on 12/3/92.

Here’s a little glimpse of our day. I hope I got the pics in with the right description. We saw so many species I had never seen before, it got confusing who was who and what was what. Hope you enjoy!


GOLDEN EAGLE
Canyon
This male Golden Eagle was hit by a plane in Moab, Utah. He miraculously did not have any broken bones, however, he did sustain permanent nerve damages to his left wing, which makes him unable to fly. Canyon, the most powerful avian predator, has graciously accepted his role as ambassador. This is amazing since the magnificent eagles are found only in remote mountainous regions. He arrived at Hawk Creek as an adult on 11/28/95.

BALD EAGLES
One Wing
This adult female bald eagle, One Wing, was used for target practice and was shot from a telephone pole in Oklahoma. She broke three bones in her wing and is unable to fly. She spent 18 months in New Mexico at an eagle hospital, was deemed non-releasable, and then was sent to Hawk Creek. This majestic creature has had stolen from her exactly what she is a symbol of-freedom. One Wing was the inspiration for our Walk with the Eagles sanctuary, and is a daily reminder that our work here is not done. She was hatched on 5/90 and arrived at Hawk Creek on 3/26/92.

Tunkashila
Tunkashila, the Lakota name for the messenger between the people and the great spirit, which seems to be the job of this male bald eagle at Hawk Creek. He came to us from the Wildlife Center of Virginia, which is where Wildlife Emergencies is filmed, after a car accident permanently injured his wing.* He is One-wing's companion. Arrived as adult: 5/1/97

The third Bald Eagle is Apache, but there was no story available for him.

Peregrine Falcon
Legacy
This female feathered missile, commonly known as a peregrine falcon, was donated by a falconer from Maine. She has a twofold legacy: one of being the fastest creature on the planet, clocked at over 235 mph, and of being persecuted almost to extirpation in North America by the indiscriminate use of DDT. She not only has become a companion for Zephyr but she has also become a star of our endangered species program. She was hatched in 1998 and arrived at Hawk Creek on 6/18/04

American Kestrel
Arrow
Arrow came to Hawk Creek from a nature center in Rochester. This small falcon was “dive-bombing” everyone at a park. He was brought to a rehab facility and could not be released because he was raised by humans and became imprinted. This episode shows the dangers of imprinting wild animals on humans for both the animal and the people. Hatched 4/1/95 and arrived at Hawk Creek 3/28/97.







Dash
I didn’t get a picture of Dash, but here’s his story:
Dash came to Hawk Creek as a tiny, fuzzy baby in the summer of 2005.* He was raised with five other kestrels, and later he was placed with Arrow, our resident kestrel, so he would have a role model and company.* When all the other baby kestrels were released successfully, this little bird was still in our care.* He has permanent physical problem that prevents him from flying* beyond little flits from perch to perch, making him unable to survive in the wild. We weren’t sure what the next step would be in his care, and then he decided for us by jumping up from the ground and landing on a volunteer’s glove, just like he was on an education program! Dash seems to enjoy his role and an education bird. Hatched on 5/1/98 and arrived at Hawk Creek on 7/1/03.

Andean Condor
Fernando
This Andean condor was part of a reintroduction program, but when placed with his foster parents, he was viciously attacked. He barely survived and required surgery to repair the damage. Because of these injuries he is no longer eligible for release in the wild. They were initially tentative about housing such an enormous bird, but he has proven to be very even tempered. Hatched on 5/11/85 and arrived at Hawk Creek on 8/29/02.

Augur Buzzard
Serengeti
This male augur buzzard came to HC from The World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, the first facility in the world to successfully bred this species. The first clutch arrived in 1998 and there are approximately 21 augur buzzards in captivity. Captive breeding projects are crucial for replenishing declining numbers in the wild. Hatched on 4/1/98 and arrived at Hawk Creek on 11/27/98.

Harris' Hawk
Cheyenne
This female Harris’ hawk came to the Center via the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis. She was housed by a falconer in a cold environment which caused frostbite and the subsequent lose of some of her toes. Since this is the main weapon for a raptor, Cheyenne would not be able to find food for herself. Estimated hatch date: 6/8/85 and arrived at Hawk Creek on 7/20/00.