MATTHEW SALMONS
Last updated16:15, April 22 2017
Matthew Salmons/FAIRFAX NZ
Only one in ten hawks brought into the North Canterbury bird rescue centre survives. Most of the birds brought in have been hit by cars.
A lucky kahu(harrier hawk) from Eyrewell,North Canterbury, returned home on Friday, but Oxford Bird Rescue (OBR) says many won't be so fortunate.
OBR's Scott Bowman said about one in 10 hawks brought in after being injured would survive, and he expected to see more than usual this year.
Over the last six years, OBR and Canterbury Raptor Rescue (now part of OBR) had cared for more than 700 hawks, with 10 per cent released back into the wild.
Matthew Salmons/Fairfax NZ
Scott Bowman checking the hawk before release.
Hawks were moving back to a diet ofcarrion Bowman said, as their usual food sources young rabbits and fledgling birds were maturing and becoming a "bit more canny".
Matthew Salmons/Fairfax NZ
The sharp beak and vicious claws of the predatory harrier hawk.
The younger hawks were less likely to be able to judge the speed of oncoming vehicles as they tucked into a meal of road kill.
"Abig part of their problem is disengaging their rear talons can be quite slow. As they move forward to fly off, if they don't roll their foot enough their foot gets stuck in the carrion, which results in them generally being clipped."
Bowman said that "like anything", hawks came off second best when colliding with a car and encouraged drivers to slow down and give hawks a chance to take off safely.
Matthew Salmons/Fairfax NZ
Another hawk recuperating in the Bowman's aviary.
He said he would also encourage people to move carrion off the roads, giving hawks a safe meal.
OBR was gearing up for a bumper season of hawks this year, as last year's breeding season had been good for all birds.
"We're going to see quite a few. We're not even in winter yet and we've already had quite a number come in, five this week."
Matthew Salmons/Fairfax NZ
This hawk was not happy about his pre-release check.
Broken wings, legs andinternal bleeding were common injuries for the hawks brought into OBR, who in turn would take them for treatment at a vet or wildlife hospital.
"Even though they look like quite a solid bird, like all birds they're pretty delicate," Bowman said.
The lucky hawk released on Friday was brought into OBR by Eyrewell farmer Michelle Hayward on February 11 with a broken wing.
Matthew Salmons/Fairfax NZ
Michelle Hayward and Scott Bowman preparing to release the hawk from the carry case.
Hayward said she found the hawk in a paddock where calves were grazing.
"My dog found it, I think he thought it was one of the calves. I went over and I was like 'oh shit, what's he got?'."
The hawk was not injured by the dog, Bowman said, but had likely been hit by a car.
Matthew Salmons/Fairfax NZ
Michelle Hayward shows Scott Bowman where she found the hawk.
"The South Island Wildlife Hospital did most of the work with this one. Pauline, the head vet, pinned the break, did the physio and handed the bird back to us to do the last part of the rehab," Bowman said.
Hayward said hawks were a useful bird for farmers, as they drove off other birds which might affect growing feed crop.
"We used to have pidgeon problem. I just wish they'd clear out those bloody magpies."
-Stuff
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Lucky hawk back home - The Press
