Two more flying away

JESSIE (top) MINER (bottom)

Today two more of my rehabilitated birds have flown away. MINER came to me from the Belle Ayr coal mine near Gillette. His nest was on the top of a coal conveyor and he fell off before he was old enough to fledge. Because the rules of the mine forbid the operator to climb the belt and replace him in the nest, he came to IBR.

The other redtail baby, JESSIE, was found on Paradise Valley Road near Riverton. He was unwilling to fly, probably due to a wound near his right elbow. It took a long time to heal but eventually he was flying with strength.

Once both of these young hawks proved they could make live kills it was time for them to be released. That happened on the Pfister Ranch about 20 miles south of Meeteetse. The abundant voles and rabbits will make for a wonderful place for them to return to the wild.