Good Samaritans help injured red-tailed hawk (MD)

[Donna]

An injured red-tailed hawk has a second chance at life thanks to some quick-thinking witnesses, a skilled bird handler and a bird-rescue organization.
Photo courtesy of Adam Daniels Photography

A red-tailed hawk with an injured wing stands alongside Route 8 south of Batts Neck Road in Stevensville on Wednesday. Kent Island resident Stephen Reverand, a licensed falconer, captured the bird, which was taken to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research in Newark, Del.
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The bird, with a mangled left wing, was spotted on the side of Route 8 near Batts Neck Road in Stevensville on Wednesday afternoon.

Kent Island resident Stephen Reverand, who is a licensed falconer, got a call from his friend, Chris Bird, about the injured hawk.

"They had seen the hawk on the side of Route 8 and they knew I handle hawks. … People know people on Kent Island. They knew I am licensed to handle hawks," said Reverand, who said he works by day as a filmmaker for the National Geographic Channel.

Reverand, who currently trains and flies a peregrine falcon as a hobby, quickly headed to the scene.

"I thought I'd see Chris and an injured hawk, and there were eight or nine cars and a photographer," he recalled. "That tells me people care about injured wildlife."

Reverand guessed the hawk may have been hit by a car.

It recently had eaten and had a full crop, which is a pouch near the throat that is part of its digestive tract. Other than the broken wing, the hawk appeared to be in good shape, though Reverand cautioned he's not an expert.

With the help of his son, Joshua, who is an apprentice falconer, Reverand covered the hawk with a towel, secured its legs and took it home. The bird stayed at the Reverands' home overnight and then was taken to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research in Newark, Del., on Thursday.

Dr. Heidi Stout, the executive director of Tri-State, said the hawk's prognosis is "guarded." The bird underwent surgery Thursday and is still receiving treatment.

Reverand has high hopes for the hawk, but is realistic that it might have to be put down or might never make it back into the wild.

He hopes that if the bird recovers, it can be released back in Stevensville.

"The prognosis of a red-tailed hawk with a broken wing is serious," he said. "This organization is giving this animal every chance in the world."

[valhalla]

Good story.  For those not in the area, Stevensville is on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay - one of the first exits off the Bay Bridge that connects Kent Island with Annapolis, MD.