Urban Red-tailed Hawk Update:The Lead Fledge of 114th St., Hous of Astoria Park, and Thunder of Tulsa.

Photo courtesy of the Horvaths
This is the fledgling suffering from lead poisoning that was taken into the Animal Medical Center on Tuesday, the same day that the Houston tiercel went in for treatment. She currently has a paralysed foot and leg. There is some thought that she may be one of the Cathedral fledglings, daughter of Isolde and Norman.

Can anyone recognize her from her belly band?

And an update from Bobby Horvath courtesy of Cathedral Hawkwatcher, Rob Schmunk, http://bloomingdalevillage.blogspot.com/

The fledgling with lead poisoning is a 7 to 8 week old female found at 309 W 114 St. She has no use of her right toes at this time. There's no way to know if it is temporary or permanent damage. It could be an old nest injury, recent trauma based, or neurological damage from the lead poisoning she has as per the blood results.

Bobby

I spoke with Bobby and he said once they've cured her lead poisoning her leg might come back--but that's a "might". It might not as well.

As for the Houston tiercel, because of his high white count and the fact that it will take several days to grow a culture that will tell us what he is actually suffering from, Mr. Houston is currently on an anti-fungal medication in case he has Frounce, and an anti-bacterial in case he's suffering from a bacterial infection. The medication for the tiercel by itself came with a price tag of $90. I'll find out the particulars but in the meantime give some thought to making a small donation towards our urban Red-tails care.

Eleanor Tauber took this luscious photograph in, of course, Strawberry Fields. The last few days we've had so many examples of what can be done when we work together.
IMAGINE all the things we could do and then go out with a few friends and do them.
("It's easy--All you need is love.")


Speaking of luscious photographs, here are four more from Francois Portmann. First off Hous of Astoria Park aka. Houston 1 is attacked by a Blue Jay. Note it isn't Trib who's getting it, now is it?
A clarification for any confusion, as the Triborough pair had lost their second fledge, a female to internal bleeding from hitting the asphalt below the nest, and as Houston 1 was more than ready to be released, he went to foster with the Triborough nest family when their own eyass Trib, for short, went home.

We had just confirmed to everyone's satisfaction that the Houston pair was intact, within their territory, and making morning visits to East River Park, when the male was found grounded. Thereby putting the plan to release H2 and H3 in East River Park where their parents could find them, and under the watchful eyes of the construction workers who'd been watching their parents hunt squirrels daily, on hold.

Gosh, just which eyass would be laying with his tail in the air in a tree?

Yup, that's Hous again. On the top of the diving board of course. It's hot when laying on metal in the sun, waiting for your breakfast to be served-- better to keep your head in the shade.

AN UPDATE FROM EVER FAITHFUL HAWKWATCHER JULES CORKERY--

Hi All
This morning Atlas came to the middle dining platform around 8 am. He didn't have any food but was still there when I left to get to the train at 8:30. The babies came flying in right after - H1 on the top platform railing and Triborough on a lower side diving platform. They didn't beg and stayed where they landed. Houston pooped and preened. I didn't see Triborough do the same but he was preening and looked comfortable and alert. Still skinnier than H1 but practicing jumping and stretching a lot more.

Today, the lifeguard staff showed up for work so there will be more activity in preparation for tomorrow's opening. The pool opens to the public tomorrow - the pool's sessions are usually from 11 - 2 pm and 4 - 7 pm.

Will let you know what I see tomorrow morning.
Hope all is well with you all.

Jules
(Note: the diving area below the structure the fledglings use for breakfast is not filled with water so there isn't a danger of them falling off it and drowning. D.B.)

Little talons pressed into the bark, Hous looks longingly at something.
Trib is around but he's just much stealthier.

Screen captures of Thunder of Tulsa courtesy of KJRH-TV Tulsa
You wouldn't know this hawk was hatched on a TV TOWER or anything, now would you?

Tulsa Hawkwatcher Donna Johnson sent in these captures and an update on the Tulsa Red-tailed Hawk family.

Hello again Donna,

I thought I would send some more pictures of Thunder. Sorry I did not send them sooner. We have had some short visits from Thunder, Kay, and Jay. The local watchers have really had a good time spotting her and relaying details to us about their sightings. They seem to be staying very close to the nest tower.

In the picture of Thunder eating, that's a bird Kay had left in the nest the day before.

Donna J.

Thunder spies something.

Who says day old pigeon isn't tasty!

Donegal Browne

P.S. Hous wears the silver band and Trib wears one with red nail polish on it.