Butey the Red Tailed Hawk
During the first few weeks, she regained movement in her left wing and foot but both remained weak. She could use her wing to only hop-fly short jumps and her left foot could not grip very well. Under our Possession Permits from the PA Game Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we are allows to keep a few unreleasable animals for education purposes. We decided to keep her and named her Butey.
Butey excelled as an educational bird. She handled easily, learned very quickly and soon became one of the favorite attractions at school assemblies and Boy Scout banquets.
As an ambassador for her kind, there was no better. Proud and elegant she stood and inspired awe in all who saw her. She was also a favorite at the local powwows we attended and was the first Red Creek bird to enter the circle in solemn celebration.
The summer of 1993 brought us 3 juvenile Red-Tailed Hawks who had been separated from their parents during a strong wind storm. Having no experience, and being too young to care for themselves, they needed a parent and Butey took to the task.
8 years had gone by in which Butey had shared our lives.
It was becoming apparent that she was also growing old. Red-Tailed hawks that reach the age of 2, can and do often live to be near 20 years old in the wild and some have lived to be 25 in captivity and we estimated Butey’s age between 15 and 20.
Nerve damage often never heals completely, and if it does, it is a very slow process.
During the winter of 1999/2000, we noticed a difference in Butey. She was holding her wings even and the wing seemed stronger. Then one day during a program, she pierced my glove accidentally with her talons and punctured my hand with her weaker foot. It seemed that she was healing after all.
Since we first opened in 1991, many volunteers had blessed our work, young and old from all walks of life.
Many volunteers, past and present, gathered this day at Red Creek. Some had not been here in years and one even came from Colorado with her new baby.
Many had never met each other but they shared a kinship of working to help wildlife here and to each one, Red Creek held a special place in his or her heart. Stories abound of all the critters that passed through these doors. My home was filled with joy, laughter and hugs. Each volunteer had worked with Butey at some point and they all came this day for one reason:
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We saw her regularly for a few days, though she never came in for food. She has visited us a few times since then, once accompanied by a young male, and my heart is glad. Perhaps she has had a nest of babies this year.
MY SPIRIT FLIES
WITH YOU
September 15th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Thank you for the beautiful story. I too had a redtail which i Used for twenty years in the sport of falconry and shealways came back when let free. she was athing of beauty to see in flight. Then one day when I came home her mews was open and she was gone and had been spotted seven weeks late but not since. I often wonder if that is she I see flying from time to time. I’d love to think of her doing well and truly enjoying her freedom.
Bing B.