WildLifeClassroom.org

[|WildlifeClassroom.org] is an educational outreach program affiliated with Tri County Wildlife Care. The site is managed by Elisabeth Anderson, Director of Education, Tri County WildLife Care. Questions or comments can be directed to mtgal48@earthlink.net

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The above was originally published January 11, 2012 at http://wildlifeclassroom.org/2012/01/11/attempted-rescue-of-a-prairie-falcon/ Attempted Rescue of a Prairie Falcon by Randall Stringer Originally published by TCWC, [|Newsletter Volume II, Issue 4, Oct/Dec 2008] At approximately 10:40 a.m. on January 12, 2009, I received a call from Carlos Rodriguez, one of our East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) Senior Construction Inspectors, regarding an injured raptor on our construction right-of-way, adjacent to Cord Road, approximately three miles east of Clements, CA. When I arrived on-site, I saw the bird hopping around, and it was evident that at least one of its wings was injured. We did not know for sure what happened to the bird, but we suspected that it may have been hit by a vehicle on Cord Road. The two of us gently herded the bird up against a no-climb fence, and I dropped a sweatshirt over it. I positioned my hand under the sweatshirt so that I could grasp both legs, just above the feet, and I picked up the bird. Mr. Rodriguez immediately drove back to the EBMUD construction office trailers and got a cardboard box, lid, and duct tape. While he was gone (approximately 10 minutes), I sat quietly holding the bird. I was able to get several photographs with my right hand, while holding the raptor with my left hand. The bird never attempted to bite me, or to fly away, and it appeared to be very calm. When my co-rescuer returned, we gently placed the bird in the box, put on the lid, and taped the box closed. There were two air holes in the box, and we hoped that the bird would feel a little less stress. I took the bird back to our construction trailer and called EBMUD Mokelumne Watershed Supervisor Chris Swann to ask his advice as to where we could take the bird. About 30 minutes later, EBMUD Ranger Supervisor Tim Cox came by to pick up the bird and take it to wildlife rehabilitator Pat Benik, who works with Tri-County Wildlife Care (TCWC). All of us here at the EBMUD construction trailers were pulling for the bird. The following morning, I received an email from Susan Manning, TCWC Director of Animal Care, stating that Ms. Benik had rehydrated the bird and given it pain medication, but that the bird had died sometime overnight. After I sent the bird to TCWC, I was informed that it was probably a prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus). We all were devastated to hear that the bird had not survived, but we were not discouraged. We have, however, been able to rescue several species of birds, reptiles, and mammals during our construction project, and we will continue to attempt to save every injured or displaced animal that we can. Randall Stringer, TRC Solutions Lead Environmental Inspector EBMUD FSCC Pipeline Project (650) 303-9289