Bird Watching - The Outdoor Directory for Birding

A juvenile Cooper's Hawk crashed through a glass window of Ms. Raczek's first period biology class at LIncoln High School in Portland, Oregon. It was probably on its first migration when the juvenile hawk shattered the window glass and disrupted the biology class. One student thought a rock or a ball had been thrown through the window. When the object flew across the room. hit another window and fell to the floor it became apparent it was a bird. The stunned bird was picked up and transported to the Audubon Society of Portland's Wildlife Care Center for treatment. The hawk showed signs of head trauma and had a small cut on one wrist. After a day of observation, good care and a meal, the bird was ready for release. Ms. Raczek and 30 students met on the high School football field to watch the Cooper Hawk's continue its flight. Bon Voyage and Good Luck!

Posted by bill@birdingguide.com at 06:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the 1880's John Audubon tied silver thread to the legs of young Eastern Phoebes before they fledged and checked for them the next spring. they were found with teir own nests not far from where he banded them. Much later the US Fish and Wildlife Service started pacing metal bands on waterfowl and later on all bird species. The problem with such leg bandskis they cannot be easily seen or read on live birds. Most returns were on shot birds or birds found dead. It was found by scientists that if they used colored bands placed in a specific order on the birds feet, the information could give answers without harming the bird. Fish and Wildlife started using plastic neck collars on geese and swans. The letter and number codes would be easily read and the birds could be indentified as individuals and followed.

In recent years scientists have placed radio tags on birds. The tags report to an overhead satillite and then down to a computer. Check the web stie for Hawkwatch International for interesting travel maps showing the long distance movements of radio tagged raptors.

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