Rfalconcam Forum

http://youtu.be/B5nICcu-x5o (http://youtu.be/B5nICcu-x5o) 1st fledge

Plunge is right!  Had no clue what was going to happen when he stepped off  :hysterical:

Second egg for Big Red

Big Red Lays Her Second Egg 3-17-2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJa69Edcflc#ws)

And 3 now...

 :clap:

We're excited to share the news with you that the first egg in the CornellHawks nest has begun pipping! Earlier today a small hole was seen forming and there is a high likelihood of seeing a new downy nestling enter the world over the next 24 hours. "Pipping" refers to the process of the chick initially breaking through the shell, using a hard projection on its bill called the egg tooth. The resulting hole is the "pip" that the chick then enlarges to finish hatching. The hatch follows 38 days of stalwart incubation by Big Red and Ezra in often windy and rainy conditions (check out some highlights on YouTube). 

Big Red & Ezra  cam (http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/16/Red-tailed_Hawks/)

Yay!  Keep pipping, little one!   :thumbsup:

 :clap:

 :thumbsup: :clap: YES!!

Saw on FB: :(

Bird Cams
There is sad news to share today. Though we aren’t sure that they are “ours,” two juvenile hawks were found on campus this morning. One had died, possibly overnight in the terrible thunder storms that we had, and the other has a badly injured foot and extensive abrasions to both legs. We are currently awaiting autopsy results for what may have killed the one hawk. The injured juvenile is currently being treated for his injuries. It is unclear how he was injured, though it may have been caused by a prey animal fighting back. He is currently resting quietly and on a regimen of pain medication and antibiotics. We are in touch with the veterinary staff treating the bird and will give an update as soon as we know more.

Oh, how very sad! There sure have been some cruel thunderstorms this season.    :(

Heavy sigh...    :(

And the hits keep coming!  :( 

Juvenile Hawks Update:
The injured juvenile hawk remains in serious condition from injuries sustained last week (described below). We wanted to assure you that it is receiving the best care possible, and we'll share more information when there's more to share.

We are also awaiting results of diagnostic tests on the young hawk found dead on Friday, and will share more information as it becomes available, hopefully later today.

Lastly, one juvenile Red-tailed Hawk (identified by hawkwatchers as "D2") is still being seen around campus, as are Big Red and Ezra.

We ask for patience as it takes time to learn more. The passionate, skilled vet school staff has its hands full caring for animals (including this juvenile hawk), so please let them focus their energies on healing and direct any questions about the hawks to us at <birdcams@cornell.edu>. They are in communication with us about each of the cases, and we'll update the cams community as we receive more information.

Thanks for your support of the hawks—each day they remind me, even with a heavy heart, to keep looking up!

New update:

Juvenile Hawks Update, Part 3:

Our colleagues at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center have updated us that unfortunately the condition of the injured hawk in their care continues to be very serious. Today the veterinarians will examine the tissues in the bird's legs, which have severe abrasions, to determine the extent of damage and whether tissues are still viable. We are grateful that this young hawk is in the care of one of the top veterinary facilities in the country and we want to express our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated and expert staff there for doing everything they can to help this bird. We're thinking positive thoughts for recovery even as we acknowledge a realistic possibility that the hawk may not survive or may have injuries too severe to lead a quality life, either in the wild or in captivity. If you'd like to send an encouraging word to the staff at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center, please see the address in the previous post. They also welcome donations, which enable them to help this hawk and many other animals in need.

We also wanted to update you that we've been told it will be at least another week before the diagnostic lab has completed the test results to determine a cause of death for the other hawk. Thanks for your patience as they complete their work.

We will share updates with you as they become available. Thanks so much for the positive words you have shared with us and our patient's caregivers in the past few days.


             :(

Sad news-they euthanized the injured juvie today-they said the injuries were just too severe.  :crying:

We are sorry that we have more sad news to share today. Despite having been under the best possible, expert, care since Friday, the hawk had injuries that were ultimately too extensive and severe to enable recovery and quality of life. The veterinary team determined that it was time to euthanize the hawk. We are very sad, but also take comfort in knowing that he is no longer suffering and in pain.

Our heartfelt thanks to the veterinary staff at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center who gave the hawk the best possible second chance. He would not have survived in the wild and the staff did everything they could to help this bird recover and make him comfortable. He received fluid therapy, nutritional supplements, and medications to control pain, infection, and parasites. He had assisted feeding because he could not eat on his own, and he could not stand. Because of tendon, joint, and nerve damage in both legs, and severe damage to his toes, including one missing toe and one toe that would have required amputation, he would likely never be able to stand or to capture and hold prey. His condition was reported as depressed and dehydrated despite fluid treatment. As anyone knows who has faced the difficult decision of euthanasia for a pet, this is always a very difficult decision to make and is guided by the current and probable future well-being of the patient.

We have requested the Wildlife Health Center to send us photos of the hawk’s plumage for identification clues that can be compared with images and observations of the young hawks we watched grow up together this season in Big Red's and Ezra’s nest. Circumstantial evidence, including observations from our dedicated on-the-ground observers, suggests the strong possibility that he was one of the Ds. Either way, today we can celebrate the life of young hawks and all that we’ve learned while getting to know and appreciate them. Many times in the chat we talk about the survivorship challenges for young birds, and though we all know this is the way of nature, it is still sad for us when we see it happen.

Thanks to all of you who have followed the hawks and to our cam moderators and to the BOGs for their observations on the ground. Your outpouring of positive words, good wishes, and support have meant so much to us, and to the staff who cared for this hawk during the past few days. What a lucky bird to have been valued and loved by so many.

 :(

Too many this year flying free...  :crying:

Sadness all around!  :(

Way too many rough storms this year.   :(

Hawk Update

 Many of you have asked what led to the death of the young hawk found dead near Bradfield Hall on August 9. Thanks for your patience as we awaited the report from the Animal Health Diagnostic Center. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma and associated internal bleeding, likely from a collision. We do not know whether a collision may have occurred with a vehicle, building, or other object. Other than its injuries, the young hawk appeared to be healthy and in good condition.

 We know that young hawks face many challenges in their first year of life, from hatching to their first flight and on to being successful fliers, foragers, and breeders. It's a small solace to know that the hawk was in good condition and had been foraging successfully on its own.

 Thank you for your support during these last difficult weeks, and for the outpouring of appreciation you've expressed about Big Red, Ezra, and family.

Darn collisions! Deadly!! :(   Thanks Kris

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/08/young-hawks-found-dead-injured-campus (http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/08/young-hawks-found-dead-injured-campus)

Over the last few weeks, two juvenile hawks have died on Cornell’s campus, leading to an outpouring of public interest.

This should be posted under Cornell Hawk Cam-Raptor web cams.

Merged.

Yeah well, you know me! Sorry! Thanks

HURRAY!  First egg of the season for the Cornell red-tailed hawks!  Let's hope for no bad news for this nest this year.

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/16/Red-tailed_Hawks/ (http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/16/Red-tailed_Hawks/)

Thanks!  I've been watching Big Red and Ezra, hoping an egg would be soon and, yes, hopefully a better year!

First confirmed pip today!

CornellRTHA Cam 'It's Daddy Time!' 8:04 am _4.26.14_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQI1VAWt-0#ws)

YAY!!  Thanks, Kris!!

All three have fledged but here's an update on E3, who has been injured:

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology would first of all like to thank all #CornellHawks chat moderators, cam operators, Tweeters, birders on the ground, chatters and Cornell University staff for their quick action, cooperation and fantastic team work yesterday.

The last Red-tailed Hawk nestling to fledge was E3 on June 14. Unfortunately yesterday morning E3 was injured in an accident. While resting on the roof of one of the Greenhouses over the road from the CornellHawks nest, the automated roof vents began to close. E3 was resting under one of these vents which lowered very slowly. The young bird did not move out of the way and became trapped under the lowering glass catching its right wing. Shortly after the vents closed they opened and Cornell Facilities staff were contacted and immediately responded shutting down the motors to the vents. E3 remained on the roof of the greenhouse for the afternoon, standing, but with the right wing lowered. Victoria, a licensed rehabber and Cornell Lab of Ornithology staff member, arrived on scene just a couple of hours after the event.

Victoria advised that there should be no attempts to capture the bird while it remained on the roof and that it would be best to wait until the bird moved. In the early evening luckily E3 decided to try to fly to a nearby tree, but didn’t quite make it and fell to the ground. Victoria sprang into action, safely capturing the bird. She then took it immediately to the Cornell Wildlife Clinic.

At the clinic both the vet and Victoria looked over the bird. It appeared the juvenile had an injury to its right shoulder. The hawk was given sub-cutaneous fluids and some anti-inflammatory medication. It was decided that an x-ray should be delayed for the following day as they did not wish to stress the bird further. To stabilize the wing it was wrapped up.

Today we have been waiting for results from the x-rays. Victoria heard from the clinic this afternoon. The vets confirm that E3 has a humeral break to the upper wing bone just below the shoulder joint. While this sounds like the worst news it is actually easier to heal in a young bird than a dislocation. E3 will undergo surgery tomorrow to get a better understanding of the break and to pin the bones. Currently it is a guarded but fair prognosis. Dependent on the integrity of the bone the bird has a fair chance of being able to fly. We now await further news from the surgery and will most likely be notified tomorrow afternoon.

E3 is vocalizing regularly at the vets and the staff have fallen in love with him!

Hope all goes well for E3. 

Indeed!  Thanks for the update, Kris.  I hope all goes well for E3.

Heavy sigh-some good news would be welcome!  :(

Poor little one!  Speedy recovery!!

Today's update on E3:

On Wednesday afternoon, June 18, we received a further update from the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center at Cornell. The vets reassessed E3’s condition and red blood cell count this morning. The count was at a safe value and they proceeded with the surgery. The injury at the fracture site was more severe than expected, based on the x-ray images alone: several bone fragments were present at the fracture site and one of the important flight muscles was partially ruptured. The fracture and the muscle were repaired. E3 did well during the procedure and recovered well. E3 was fully awake, grooming and making calls shortly after the surgery. The prognosis is still guarded at this point. We will have to wait and see if and how the bone heals and if the bone heals if the flight muscles are fully functional. We will keep you posted with any further updates.

What a shame, he was just in a bad spot!  :(

Big Red & Ezra make an appearance for Homecoming:

http://t.co/NA784K0Tuy (http://t.co/NA784K0Tuy)

Good news!  Thanks Pat!

Was there ever an update on what happened with E3?

Here's the update, Carol:

CornellHawks E3 Update, September 23, 2014

We're happy to update you that in the three months since #E3's injury in June, he has continued to heal steadily under the expert care of veterinarians and staff at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center, and he has spent the last few weeks in rehabilitation with the Cornell Raptor Program, directed by Dr. John Parks.

Dr. Parks reports that aside from the wing fracture, E3 is in good health overall. Because of his young age, he has adjusted fairly quickly to his new aviary. He seems quite comfortable and often lies down on a shelf at his window to sun. His injured wing is held a little abnormally, with the shoulder slightly elevated when perched. To help E3 gain as much use of the wing as possible, the Raptor Program has been encouraging him to extend his wing and fly across the aviary multiple times a day, offering a gloved hand garnished with food. E3 can now fly 10-12 feet. This distance may improve with time, but the prognosis is very poor for him to regain enough flight to sustain himself in the wild. We realize this will come as sad news to those of you who have followed E3's story since the beginning.

The good news is that E3 has adjusted well to life at the Cornell Raptor Program, where he has bonded with his caregivers, and the Wildlife Health Center will continue to provide medical care and follow-up as needed. Given the circumstances, both the Wildlife Health Center and Cornell Lab of Ornithology are delighted that the Raptor Program has agreed to keep E3 as an education bird. He will begin appearing in public education programs around the community beginning this fall. We will keep you posted about E3's activities and progress.
 

Bittersweet but he's in good hands!

Thanks for posting the update Kris!

Happy to hear that he survived his injuries and that he is doing well adjusting to his new life.  Although I do wish he had been able to return to the wild.

Yes, thanks, Kris.  And I echo Carol's sentiments.  It is unfortunate, but I'm grateful for the good people at Cornell.

Nice! :2thumbsup: