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Injured hawk takes flight

Work of volunteers makes rehabilitation possible
Kyle Wells

It took a little convincing to get her out of the cage but a rehabilitated red-tailed hawk released back into the wild recently in Powell River is most likely grateful for the helping hand.

Late January the 8-month-old female hawk injured itself by flying into a window in Townsite. A male teenager found the bird, put it in a box and brought it to bird enthusiast and rehabilitation volunteer Merrilee Prior. Prior transported the stunned bird to Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) in Merville on Vancouver Island, where the bird stayed until ready to be released.

It took four or five of days of recovery before the bird came out of her stunned state and was able to stand up properly, said Maj Birch, manager of MARS. Underweight when she came in, the hawk became an “aggressive eater” once feeling better and put on a considerable amount of weight during her stay, which is a good sign. The bird started flying again soon after and her temporary caretakers declared her fit for release.

BC Ferries transported the hawk over from Comox and Prior met her on this side. Prior set the hawk free just off Cranberry Street where, as of writing, she remains and can still be spotted on occasion flying around.

“It’s stealing pigeons in my backyard,” laughed Prior. “That’s a good thing.”

Prior has been volunteering with MARS and working together with Powell River SPCA and veterinarian Dr. Brian Barnes, on birds found injured in the Powell River area. Birch said they get a large number of birds from Powell River and that Prior has been a big help in getting them the care they need.

Prior, who grew up around birds and has many pet birds of her own, became involved after Barnes started asking her to take care of wild birds that were brought to him injured. Prior laughed that she didn’t know much about wild birds at the time and had to call MARS to find out even what to feed them. She started volunteering with the society soon after and now has the capacity to take care of small birds for a short amount of time at her house before transporting them to Merville. She is in the process of applying for the certification to fully rehabilitate small birds at her home in Townsite.

“It’s just the satisfaction of giving something back,” said Prior. “We’re hard on wildlife and if I can do something for birds I will. It’s just nice.”

MARS helps about 400 to 450 injured wild birds, and some mammals, per year, including eagles, owls and hawks. They operate primarily with volunteers and interns and depend on donations for financial support. Donations can be made through its

website or by way of a collection box in Barnes’s clinic, Westview Veterinary Hospital.