a morning at Baylands Park
November 14, 2009The lingering fog was lifting, but not that fast. High up on a pole, this juvenile red-shouldered hawk sat very still.
Trekking around the Baylands Park, I was out for egrets, possibly herons. Mostly I wanted to know where the Canada geese flocks go when they leave the junior high fields. This sighting was unexpected, and in the excitement at finding a hawk, I forgot a couple of things. Manual focus. Movies.
It was very intent on finding some breakfast. I could see that it was damp, and there was some sort of protrusion on its lower body, perhaps some matted feathers. When I got home and checked the photos, I discovered that the hawk either has a deformity, with claws where they shouldn’t be, and only one foot, or is holding an injured foot up high. In some photos, it appears from the shape of the leg area that there could be another foot, but it is not visible.
Despite its handicap, the bird appears well-nourished. If any reader has an explanation, I’d love to hear it.
Holding one foot up like that when perched is normal behavior for many bird species, it gives one foot a rest and also tucked into the down feathers to keep warm. They may swap which foot gets raised but usually favor one side.
Also for raptors they seem to be able to arch there legs more so then other birds, I would assume this is help hold prey and make it easier to hang onto and eat.
Comment by Andrew — December 12, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
Treocht is mó ugg buataisí ugg láithreán gréasáin oifigiúil de bhóthar tSín chun rath
Comment by UGG Boots Ireland — October 16, 2012 @ 6:56 pm