Happy Talontines Day - Love is in the air at BRC!

Feb 10
4 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

February is the month dedicated to love and lovers—and here at BRC, it's no exception! This month's update is all about sharing the love, so read on for more...

• A Tale of Three Hawks: Red-tailed Hawks reunited

• Love Is In The Air: Join us for a fun Open House

• Love Nest Update: Jazz & Vihar egg laying poll still open

• We'd Love to See You: Calendar of upcoming events

All You Need Is Love!

The Red-tailed Hawk pictured here came to us last December thanks to a good Samaritan who found him on the ground, thin, scruffy and soaking wet.

His initial exam was puzzling. He was emaciated, dehydrated, and obviously stressed; but there were no significant injuries to account for his condition. He was given triage care (heat, fluids, antibiotics), and put under observation for the night.

By the next day, his hydration was a little better. Lab results indicated starvation due to trauma or infection, and the kind of anemia consistent with chronic disease or malnutrition. Since his physical exam had revealed evidence of an old wing trauma, we now suspected this hawk had been dealing with a more significant injury for some time. And if so, he was quite a fighter to have survived that initial trauma for as long as he did! Since he was starting to respond to treatment, his prognosis was now hopeful.

After several days, he was cleaned up (the equivalent of a bed bath in the hospital), which he really did not appreciate! Slowly, day by day, his condition improved. By early January, it was time to see how he could fly.

His initial flight test went so well our raptor team declared it "Elegant". This was good news indeed!

He continued to gain strength, but his hunting skills still needed to improve. Hoping a little "tough love" might help, we withheld prepared food to encourage him to hunt for his dinner as we continued to assess his ability to survive in the wild.

By mid-January, his weight was up, he was flying perfectly, and his stamina was greatly improved. And since he had finally become a successful hunter, he was approved for release.

This is where the love story begins...

After 25 days in care, this Red-tailed Hawk was returned to where he was originally found. As our release team checked out the area, they noticed a large Red-tailed Hawk soaring above. Cautiously, they released our hawk. He soared into the air, circling low, getting his bearings. Suddenly, the larger bird swooped down to him and by her significantly larger size, she was definitely female. As they were circling, soaring and screaming together, they were joined by a third hawk. Was this a family reunion? Was our hawk a mate and a father finally making his way home after a long, harrowing experience? We'll never know, but whatever the connection between them, this story had a happy ending! Check out the release video

We warmly invite you to join us on February 28th for the first Open House we've been able to host in a very long time! This event will be as educational as it is fun, with multiple stations throughout the Ambassador wing to highlight the incredible world of birds and our work. Some stations will focus on our rehabilitation efforts while others focus on fun facts from the avian world. There will be a live presentation about nesting habits, courtship behaviors and our renesting program—and there will be crafts for the little ones and light refreshments. Of course it wouldn’t be BRC without including our Ambassadors, so mark your calendars, tell your friends, grab the kids and come join in the fun!

Watch our website for more information!

All You Need Is Love!

Did you take our poll?

Both Jazz and Vihar, our Great Horned Owl divas, are brooding and we are expecting eggs any day now. Can you guess which one will lay first?

Click here to participate in our poll.

Event Calendar - Come Join the Fun!

	Check out our upcoming events—there's sure to be something for everyone—avian displays, games, and practical ways to be a good wild bird neighbor! Some events will also include our Ambassadors, so make sure you come by and say 'Hi!'
	Saturday, March 7 - 10am to 4pm Sonoma County Fairgrounds A one-day, free community science festival that will spark curiosity and wonder in young and old alike. Explore 150+ interactive exhibits, from rockets to beehives, robots to sharks, to catapults, animation, animals, art, and more. Admission and parking are free, and no tickets are required. Rain or shine.
	Saturday, March 14 - 11am to 1pm 71 Brookwood Avenue, Santa Rosa Join our Ambassadors and our Education Team at Wild Birds Unlimited as they auction a limited edition print of 'Vulture' by local artist Jim Simmons. All proceeds will be donated to BRC! Learn about the amazing but often misunderstood Turkey Vulture species as you stock up on bird seed and enter your bid—if the winning bid is yours, you'll be taking home a Turkey Vulture of your very own!