Sunday, June 26, 2011

Hueston Woods State Park hawks at the Nature Center

Here is the screech owl being talked about and shown off. Later on that afternoon, we took a hike with this naturalist. We learned a lot about the trees of Southern Ohio.
Here is a hawk. I can't believe it was only a few days ago and I don't remember his story:


Same hawk looking stately and handsome.

The hawk below is a Rough-Legged Hawk. Normally, he only visits Ohio in the winter and then goes up to Northern Canada the rest of the year. A man saw this hawk hit by a car in Miamisburg and stopped. He put the hawk in the car and drove the hour to the park. They took the hawk in and cared for him, but he is injured too much to be released successfully. The veterinarians say he will be fine in the hotter Ohio summers, but they're still working on getting him used to being around them, let alone all the human visitors.


I got this photo of his feathers, too.

There is another Turkey Vulture that lives within the compound. He chooses to be there and has been for years. He isn't made to stay, but he does. I wonder what makes a bird decide to stick around like that. There's a colony of Turkey Vultures by the lodge and it was relaxing to see them ride the thermals all afternoon and evening.

3 comments:

Becky Brown said...

I love the idea of the turkey vulture who chooses to stay. It must mean that the nature center offers pretty nice digs and swank service. Good for them!

Rambling Woods said...

What a treat to see these birds... I wonder why that turkey vulture stays...the accommodations must be good....

Dianne said...

I love hawks, they have such a wonderful attitude in their expression

I'm also touched by that turkey vulture deciding to hang out