On Christmas Day, PWC received a call from a Paso Robles resident, Alton, who explained that his kids were playing outside on Christmas Eve day and alerted him to a large bird lying on its back under a tree. He picked up the bird and put it in a cage inside his shed for rest and safety.

When I arrived to collect and transport, I noted the large Red-tailed Hawk was having trouble gripping the makeshift perch with her talons. At PWC, the staff ascertained that she had likely been electrocuted. She had a wound on her left wing and one on her right leg and a burnt smell to her feathers. The wounds were likely the entrance and exit wounds of the electrical charge resulting from landing on a power pole. Large birds can accidentally touch two wires or a wire and the pole and be electrocuted or, in this case, shocked. This bird was lucky to have had minimal injuries.

After about a month of healing at our clinic, this fierce and powerful bird was ready for flight testing on a creance (a 150 foot line) which she accomplished with ease.

On January 25th, she was taken back to Paso for release. We noted a nearby power pole had been retrofitted by PG&E with an attachment that would hopefully prevent bird electrocution, though it is unclear if this was a recent placement. We three privileged volunteers watched with awe as she launched, in perfect form, toward her familiar treetop. She sat for a while, reacquainting herself with her home territory and her regained freedom before taking off for the hills.

We thank Alton and his family for the opportunity to help this beautiful and important bird of our area.