Thursday, August 30, 2007

Relent...um...recoil....oh yeah! RELEASE!

Today, I helped perform RAPTOR's ultimate goal: A release.

Three weeks ago, I got a call for an injured bird pick up during a very, very busy day. I'm glad I took the pick up, because after a nice rest and some good food and readily-available water, the red tailed hawk was ready to go home. Jeff (the Tree Climber) boxed the bird up for me and I picked it up and drove it out to New Richmond, where it had been found tangled in a fence. No real injuries, maybe a bit of bruising and dehydration (that was back when it was like a zillion degrees outside).

The home-owners were thrilled that it was back, and one of the ways RAPTOR likes to say "Thank you" to people who care enough to make a phone call (or seven) to help an injured bird, is to let them be the "releaser".


I took the hawk (formally known as RT 07-18, now known as a "free bird") from the box and handed it to the home-owner backwards, so that it was facing away from him, and instructed the neighborhood children to help me count to three.
I grabbed my camera and set it to "rapid fire" mode:

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ONE.....

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TWO.......

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THREE!
RELEASE!!!!

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And the hawk is going....

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Going.....

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Gone.

A nice, powerful lift, strong flight, and a very healthy bird is back where it belongs.
It. Felt. So. GOOD.


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11 comments:

  1. entotoThursday, August 30, 2007 10:32:00 PM

    So good, indeed! Right on, Susan. I cannot imagine how you feel.

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  2. KGMomThursday, August 30, 2007 10:40:00 PM

    Oh that is wonderful--getting to release a bird to its intended place.
    Free bird--LOL.

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  3. MaryThursday, August 30, 2007 10:47:00 PM

    Pure joy, Susan. I feel it, too. wish I was there. You rock.

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  4. Lynne at Hasty BrookFriday, August 31, 2007 1:31:00 AM

    As soon as someone figures out how to travel through the space-time continuum (ala star trek) I want to be your assistant. You have the coolest job in the world.

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  5. entotoFriday, August 31, 2007 1:39:00 AM

    ummm...I'm right there with Lynne. The only thing your job lacks is a howitzer.

    And why is it that after two glasses of wine the word verification is so hard? bwqahoiu

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  6. donaldthebirderFriday, August 31, 2007 8:15:00 AM

    Since I live in (technically) New Richmond, maybe I will see this bird sometime, living free again as intented. Nice thought. I have witnessed the release of rehabbed birds, it indeed gives a good feeling.

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  7. dguzmanFriday, August 31, 2007 9:48:00 AM

    Wow, what a rush that must be! Your job is so cool.

    Did you get my interview questions in your email box?

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  8. AnonymousFriday, August 31, 2007 9:49:00 AM

    I left a comment on this post thanking you for the info on the monk parakeets, and for the url, but I can't tell if it will show up or not, so I just wanted to say thanks. -Helena

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  9. KathiFriday, August 31, 2007 6:34:00 PM

    Cool release, Susan - wish I could have been there.

    And thanks again for the lunch invite - sorry I couldn't get away.

    Hugs to your girls,

    ~Kathi

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  10. UnknownFriday, August 31, 2007 10:17:00 PM

    You totally rock! Rockety-rock-rock!

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  11. Dave DorseyFriday, August 31, 2007 10:35:00 PM

    AWESOME!!! One of my favorite stories!

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