20181203-Red-tailed Hawk-1

Via volunteer Lynne: On December 3rd I received a call from Johnna Smith, a rehabber in Jay County Indiana.  She had a red-tailed hawk that she could find nothing wrong with, except that it wouldn't eat, drink or fly.  She wanted us to take the bird.  She informed me that there is a vet in her area that lives in south Fort Wayne, and she has met volunteers in south Fort Wayne to have them ferry the birds to our ICU.  She put me in touch with the vet, and we arranged to have Johnna do this.  Since the regular volunteer is unavailable right now, Linda Coblentz agreed to meet the vet and bring the bird to ICU. I'm told the bird has a puncture wound to the abdomen.   12/16/18 This bird is still in our treatment facility. His abdominal wound is healing well . He is still receiving treatment with an antibiotic.   12/20/2018 This bird is doing well enough that he has been transferred to our rehabilitation facility.   01/03/19 This bird is doing well!  He will eventually be put on our creance list.  This will enable him to strengthen his wing muscles and hopefully be released.   02/24/2018 This red-tail is still creance flying, and is doing well, but still needs to gain some strength.  In creance flying, a bird is tethered to one of our trainers, and given progressively more line as he gets stronger and can fly farther. Tethering keeps birds safe, and allows them to gain flight strength, while assuring that they can be retrieved as they train.