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This Baby Hawk Was Carried To A Bald Eagle Nest To Be Lunch — Instead, The Family Adopted Him!
By Marty Townsend,
4 hours ago
Bald eagles are huge, majestic birds. They rule the territory they claim as their own; any animal smaller than them is food. A young hawk, captured by a bald eagle, almost certainly faces doom. The eagle’s intention is most probably to provide lunch for the eaglets waiting in the nest. As the hawk was dropped into the nest, something pretty amazing happened.
Progress Report: Red-tailed Hawk 1516, Eagle-Nest Survivor Curious about the juvenile Red-tailed Hawk who was taken to the PWC clinic after managing to survive his fall from a Bald Eagle nest? After three weeks in care, RTHA 1516 graduated to a large offsite aviary, where he has been practicing his flying maneuvers and hunting skills. His caregiver reports that he is “doing absolutely great” in this aviary, with two other PWC Red-tailed Hawks as roommates. Surprising to some, who were on the receiving end of his ferocious talons when offering him food at the clinic, he has not been aggressive at all with these two other hawks. The three are “catching on to the live-prey hunting” and have managed to grab at least 15 of the 25 mice offered so far, although of course they continue to be fed as they improve their skills. A GoPro positioned in the feeding bin to make sure the hawks are eating attests to their “tremendous appetites.” The next step? After about three weeks, the three will be taken back to the PWC clinic for a weight check and evaluation by our veterinarian and, if all goes well, returned to the large aviary for a “soft release” – meaning they will be freed on the vast open property but given the opportunity to return for food if they need it. #baldeagle #redtailedhawk #hawkineaglenest #wildliferehab #wildlife
As the young hawk was put into the eagle’s nest, it turned, holding its beak open and begging for food. The little hawk is a survivor. The evil step-siblings eventually tossed the hawk out of the nest. The hawk got another lucky break at the Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) rescue facility.
RTHA 1516 has been in PWC’s care for about three weeks. He is now recovering in an offsite aviary, where he can practice flying and improve his hunting skills. He is learning to hunt live prey. The next step in his continuing care will be a veterinarian check-up in a few weeks. If the vet clears him, he will have a “soft release.” That means he will be freed on the sanctuary grounds but can return to caregivers for food if necessary. As he becomes more sure of himself, he will eventually make a home in the forest, take a mate, and raise a hawk family of his own.
This is not the first time a strange adoption has occurred in the wild. Many animal species will adopt foundlings and raise them as their own. However, it is extremely rare for a bald eagle to adopt a red-tailed hawk. This hawk now has a fighting chance after almost being lunch for the bald eagle family. Please share this amazing story of survival.
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