July 8: Cooper's Hawk

Baby Cooper's Hawk in the Wildlife Care Center, July 2012 - Tinsley Hunsdorfer

This baby Cooper’s Hawk is staying in the Wildlife Care Center after being found on the ground on private property. We’re not sure why the youngster was out of its nest – it’s not old enough to have fledged – but it’s doing well now.

Since the bird is in good health, staff and volunteers are working to reunite the baby with its family. They’re looking for its nest or signs of the bird’s parents.

The baby is only a few weeks old, but it already has some impressive talons – take a look at its yellow feet.

Update: July 17

Good news! Property owners spotted one of the bird's parents last week, and on Friday, the young hawk was placed in a tree near its nest. Staff believe it has now successfully fledged (taken flight).

How did our dedicated staff pull this off? First, they identified the correct tree: After the hawk's parent was sighted, staff searched the surrounding area for trees covered in poop, a sign that a nest is overhead. The nest itself was hidden from view by thick branches. Care center manager Lacy Campbell then made two trips up the tree, one to install a makeshift nest and another to place the hawklet in this temporary living space. Pretty impressive!