Op-Ed/Letters

FREE AS A BIRD. Two juvenile broad-winged hawks that had been in rehabilitation at the Center for Wildlife were released back into the wild from the top of Mount Agamenticus on Thursday, Sept. 21. The birds were from Gray and Kennebunk, and both were found near roads with injuries that indicated possible glancing blows from collisions with cars: trauma to the head and eyes, and scrapes on the feet. One was brought to the CFW on Aug. 29 and the other on Sept. 15. Pictured here is Eddie Woodin, releasing one of the hawks. Both were born this spring, probably in May, and are now en route to Texas to pass across into Central America where they will spend the winter. If all goes well, they will return to this area to breed next spring. In migration, they fly as many as 250 miles at a time, stopping to rest between flights. According to experts, the mortality rate of juvenile hawks in their first year of life is about 50 to 70 percent as most do not survive that first winter due to frost or starvation. The two young haws released last week are likely to join others on their journey, as hawks are known to migrate in large flocks. Hawk watchers from Maine Audubon who participated in last week's release said they had already seen hundreds of broadwings on their migratory way. We wish them safe travels!
Courtesy photo