A red-shouldered hawk found sitting in a driveway about a mile from the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke could not get off the ground because she had eaten too much chicken, NewsNation reported.
Medical Examinations Rule Out Usual Injuries
Staff checked the mature female hawk for broken bones, lead poisoning, eye problems, head trauma, emaciation, and bruising from any collision, according to reports by The Independent. Veterinary staff at the rescue facility also performed X-rays and bloodwork, confirming no physical injuries or health issues caused her mobility troubles, CBC reported. With typical members of her species weighing between 450 and 680 grams, or roughly one pound to 1.5 pounds according to FOX Weather and The Independent, this particular bird tipped the scales at 910 grams, or a little over two pounds, as noted by FOX Weather. Katherine McGrath, the wildlife rescue’s director of operations, told CBC host Nil Kökṣal that the hawk’s diagnosis was simply that she was fat.
The All-You-Can-Eat Backyard Buffet
Wildlife center workers could not even feel the bird’s keel—the ridge of the breastbone typically used to assess a bird’s condition—because of the heavy layer of fat covering it, Yahoo reported. Staff initially suspected someone might be keeping the bird illegally as a pet or a falconry bird because wild animals rarely reach that stage of obesity without human intervention, according to CBC. The finders spoke with their neighbours and discovered that several people kept free-roaming chickens that had been disappearing at an alarming rate over the previous few weeks, FOX Weather reported. The center concluded the hawk discovered a nearby food source where chickens were let out each morning, allowing her to swoop down, eat her fill, and rest in nearby trees until she was hungry again, according to NewsNation and The Independent.
Restricted Diets and Daily Exercise at the Facility
McGrath noted that it is not unusual for a hawk to become temporarily grounded after consuming a large meal because their flight balance is delicate, and birds have no way of knowing when they have had enough, CBC reported. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is currently restricting the hawk’s food intake to keep her in a calorie deficit while working to ensure she gets daily exercise, according to FOX Weather. Staff members report that the bird is showing normal red-shouldered hawk behaviors by being wary of human caretakers and acting angry about her captivity, CBC noted. The wildlife center advised people not to feed wildlife intentionally or unintentionally, urging chicken owners to keep their birds in covered runs.
Heavy Rescued Hawk Weighs Nearly Twice the Species Average
How much did the grounded hawk weigh compared to a normal red-shouldered hawk?
The rescued female hawk weighed 910 grams, which is just over two pounds, according to FOX Weather and The Independent. Typical red-shouldered hawks weigh between 450 and 680 grams, making this bird nearly twice the average weight for her species, as reported by CBC and The Independent.
How did the wildlife center discover why the hawk was so heavy?
After ruling out injuries, X-rays, and bloodwork, staff asked the person who found the hawk if any neighbours kept free-ranging poultry, CBC reported. The finder spoke with nearby residents and learned that free-roaming chickens had been vanishing at an alarming rate over the prior few weeks, according to FOX Weather.
What actions is the wildlife center taking to help the bird recover?
The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is restricting the hawk’s food to maintain a calorie deficit and is actively working to make sure she receives daily exercise while in their care, FOX Weather reported.