|
Garrison's Bird Lady Returns Young Hawk to Health
Red-Tailed Hawk Found injured at Philipstown Highway Dept. parking lot
 | | Photo by Russ Cusick |
|
Early one morning in August 2007, a young Red-tailed Hawk was discovered lying on its back in the middle of the Philipstown Highway Department parking lot, alive but unable to move. Highway Superintendent Roger Chirico and Mechanic Frank Weise manned the phones, trying to find help, but found no one.
An hour and a half later Cold Spring resident Don Abel - also known as the Snake Man - stopped by. Don knows and appreciates the local reptile population, and is always willing to help anyone having problems with them. When Don approached the hawk, intending to see how badly it was injured, it suddenly flipped onto its feet and ran across the parking lot, dragging one wing. Luckily the Snake Man knows the Bird Lady, also known as Garrison resident Suzie Gilbert, and quickly alerted her to the situation.
Suzie, who is a wildlife rehabilitator, came and collected the young hawk, whom she suspected had collided with a power line, and took it home to her clinic. The bird was in shock but had no broken bones. Over the next several weeks it rested, recovered from its bruising collision, and regained its strength. A month after its mishap it was released at the Philipstown Highway Department, witnessed by Roger Chirico, Don Abel, and photographer Russ Cusick.
"Watch where you're going!" called Roger Chirico, as the hawk flew back home. "Next time you might not be lucky enough to land at the Highway Department!"
| Click ads below
for larger version
|
)