CLIPS: Stunned hawk released after battling falcon (08/06/04)
March 8, 2008 – 11:04 amBY DANIEL VICTOR
Of The Patriot-News
Two birds, including an endangered peregrine falcon that nests above the Rachel Carson State Office Building, had a feathered fracas above Market Street yesterday morning, ending with a red-tailed hawk plummeting to the sidewalk.
The peregrine, one of only two adults of its kind in Harrisburg, emerged the victor in the battle. But when spectators saw the red-tailed hawk fall out of the sky, some feared it was the peregrine, who is adored by thousands of local bird-lovers.
The peregrine appeared to be unharmed, said Jack Farster, director of environmental education at the Department of Environmental Protection.
Farster thinks the hawk might have suffered a concussion. He collected the dazed hawk, determined it wouldn’t need medical attention, then brought it in a taped office paper box to a grassy area on City Island.
Red-tailed hawks are often seen on City Island, he said. They tend to nest on a platform in right-centerfield of Commerce Bank Park, home of the Harrisburg Senators. He expected the hawk, which he said was likely less than a year old, to squawk until some adults found it.
Once at City Island, he untaped the box, and the hawk slowly stuck its head out, like a groggy teenager awakening at noon.
It soon stepped out of the box, examined its surroundings and flew to a nearby fence about five minutes later. For at least 20 minutes, it stayed perched on the fence, watching families play the 13th hole of Water Golf miniature golf.
That the bird flew even a short distance indicated that it was healthy, Farster said. And being comfortable around humans suggests the hawk’s home is likely at City Island, he said.
It’s not uncommon for the City Island red-tailed hawks to explore the city, he said, but he wasn’t surprised the peregrine defended his territory.
“Almost all of their foes are losers when it comes to aerial battles,” he said.
The falcons have nested on the 15th floor ledge at the Rachel Carson building since 1997.
2 Trackback(s)