Typically, BMW admits one or two Common Nighthawks in August, when the birds are migrating to their wintering grounds in South America. This week a Common Nighthawk was admitted on Tuesday and a Common Poorwill, a slightly smaller and stockier cousin, was admitted on Friday. Both birds were too badly injured to save.
Harrier Release
Fortunately, the week ended on much happier note with the release of a Northern Harrier. Harriers nest on the ground in open grasslands. In eastern Oregon they sometimes nest in wheat fields. By the time the wheat is ready to harvest, the harriers are able to fly, but still spend time roosting on the ground. That is how Harrier 23-279 came to interact with a combine on August 13. The combine driver knew he had hit something and immediately stopped. The bird was placed in a box and transported to Pendleton.
Initially I was not very optimistic the the hawk would be releasable. There was a lot of soft tissue damage to the leading edge of the wing, but no broken bones. I have learned that mother nature can do amazing things if given a little time. We closed the wounds and applied a moist bandage to immobilize the wing and keep the skin moist.
The hawk was kept in a cage for two weeks and the bandage gradually removed. Then he was moved to a mew where he could begin to exercise. Two weeks later (when the large flight pen was empty) the mew door was opened and he was allowed into the larger space. On October 7, eight weeks after admission the harrier was released.
