Wind Over Wings
Conservation Through Education
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RED-TAILED
HAWK
Buteo jamaicensis
CONNECTICUT STATUS: Very common.
HABITAT: Deciduous woodlands
FOOD: Rodents, small mammals, birds
The Red-tailed Hawk is one of North America's most widely distributed hawks, as well as one of its largest. Females may weigh over 3 pounds; the smaller males weigh approximately 2 1/2 pounds. Wingspan is around 4 feet. The Red-tail is a soaring hawk, and may remain aloft for hours at a stretch. When it is in the air, its trademark chestnut-red tail, typically spread like a wide, rounded fan, can often be easily seen. However, only mature birds over one year old sport the red tail. Immature birds wear a dark gray tail, marked with several darker bands.
TANARAQ
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Tanaraq means "Granddaughter of the tundra", the origin of the Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk. This beautiful chocolate colored hawk is a sub-species of the Red-tailed, not seen in New England. Tanaraq was rescued in Arkansas with a dislocated shoulder and fractured ulna in her wing.
She was probably hit by a car. The rehab center in Arkansas contacted Wind Over Wings knowing that we have a patient training program for birds taking part in our educational service. We are looking forward to bringing Tanaraq's to programs.
Sabre
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Sabre is a magnificent Red-tailed Hawk who turned 19 years old in 2009. She was rescued as a nestling in Massachusetts by Larry Keating, a master falconer. A predator had attacked the hawk’s feet. Larry helped her recover from her injuries and trained her for falconry. Sabre participated in falconry programs for the last 18 years returning to Larry’s glove after flying for the audience. Larry felt that signs of aging were beginning to be evident and he retired her from the demands of programs requiring flight. Dr. Mark Pokras of Tufts University found that although she was flighted and not a human-imprint (identifies with people rather than other hawks), she had shown age-related decreases in activity and hunting ability. He said that a recent physical examination also revealed incipient cataract formation in her left eye. Given the bird’s age, physical limitations and being accustomed to captivity, he felt that it was appropriate that the bird be allowed to live out the rest of its life in a captive setting. And here we are, Wind Over Wings. We are so lucky to be the nonprofit raptor education service to provide a home for Sabre. She participates in our environmental education programs. A new kind of life.
Tribute
to Lady Red
1976-2006
During the spring of 2006, Lady Red,
this magnificent Red-tailed Hawk, completed her 3000th environmental
education program with Hope Douglas. Lady Red died at the old age
of 30. She was the matriarch of Wind Over Wings.
Ten years earlier, Lady Red was given to Wind Over Wings by the Department
of Environmental Protection after they discovered her in someone’s
basement in a small, concrete box. She had lived down there illegally
for 19 years. We moved her to a big aviary outside. It took her eight
months to come out into the sun. Unable to be released back to the
wild due to an eye injury and years in captivity, she joined the educational
service at Wind Over Wings. She taught many volunteers how to hold
a raptor. Letters have been arriving since people have learned of
her death. These are some of their comments:
We will all miss Lady Red! She was a wonderful bird, and it is comforting to think that the respect, care and love she received at Wind Over Wings helped to offset all those years in the basement. She truly was a lady. —Best wishes, Cia Marion
Lady Red was the first raptor I ever held, with thanks to you Hope. Because of that moment, I have never been the same! She may have passed in a sense......but not all of her! She was and still is a great spirit. —Mike Celantano
She will be missed; yet I will forever carry memories of her that make me smile. The first time I held her at the Shepaug I was so nervous about doing the wrong thing. As soon as she settled onto the glove and I felt her strength and received that look only a raptor can give you, I was mesmerized. All sense of time was lost. Now there on my arm was everything a hawk was to me and more. I found myself holding her closer to my body to shelter her from the wind. Her natural curiosity surfaced and in an instant she reached over and tapped at my glasses with her beak. She held on only briefly, made some sounds I had never heard a Red-tailed make, then tucked her head under my chin. How amazing, I thought, that a bird so mistreated could be so gentle and so trusting again. Ah yes, the lessons this raptor shared. So as I smile through the tears, I want to thank you for sharing her with all of us and for giving her a home she was truly happy in. I know her spirit will live on and I will hear it echoed every time I hear a Red-tailed's call as it sails across the sky. —Lorraine Amalavage
We all knew that her time here was coming to an end, but that does not make her passing any easier to mourn. I am so thankful for the chance to have known this wonderful bird and to have worked with her. She was a great example of how to forgive when her start in life was by a cruel human, she was our friend anyway. I will never forget her! —With Love and Sympathy, Pat Mulcahy
The Board of Directors of Wind Over Wings wish to thank Acorn Computing for this web site and
Ken Mulcahy for ongoing updates.
Wind Over Wings
22 Old Road
Clinton, CT 06413
(860) 669-4004
E-mail: windoverwings@comcast.net