Grayson the Broad

Transcription

Grayson the Broad
Caring for Critters Spotlight
Grayson the Broad-winged Hawk
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Welcome to today's Caring for Critters Spotlight!
Chapin Hardy, WCV
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
All this week (and the next two weeks!), we’ll spend a few minutes talking about each education animal
to help you decide which animal(s) you should adopt.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
These make wonderful holiday gifts! If you’re already a sponsor, please feel free to share your favorite
fun fact about “your” critter!
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Grayson the Broad-winged Hawk
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Chapin Hardy, WCV:
For more information about the Caring for Critters sponsorship program, click here:
http://wildlifecenter.org/news_events/news/caring-critters-2015
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
If you adopt a critter, you or your gift recipient will receive a sponsorship packet including:
• The sponsored animal’s biography;
• A photo of the animal;
• Periodic email updates about your animal;
• Detailed information about the characteristic of the animal’s species; and
• A personalized certificate of sponsorship
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Let me say (and maybe a few other people can attest) that the periodic emails are what make the
sponsorship fun through the entire “adoption” period. You will learn about what your animal is up to …
get a notification on their anniversary and/or birthday … and might even get the “inside scoop” on some
stuff!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
So whoooo should we do today?
Comment From BarbG
owl
Comment From Cathy
Must be an owl!
Comment From Lydia PA
Oh yes! The emails are awesome. The sponsors often get inside stories or exclusive pictures! I love it!
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
Athena?
Comment From Lois
Briscoe
๏๏)
OOOOOhh, an OWL! We LOVE WCV's owls!
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Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Those of you who know your bird calls might know which ambassador we are featuring today: (crosses
fingers and hopes it works)
http://soundbible.com/1236-Broad-Winged-Hawk.html
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
Pignoli?
Comment From David in VA
Tweeeety bird?
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Nope and nope
Comment From Lois
Keeya
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Oh good guess!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
But nope!
Comment From Lydia PA
Papa!
Comment From TerryMI
eastern screech owl
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
Edie?
Comment From Lois
Grayson
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Yes! It’s Grayson the Broad-Winged Hawk!
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Chapin Hardy, WCV
Comment From Lois
LOL, I knew it was some kind of hawk
๏๏)
HA HA HA we all thought owl. Chapin, you tease!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
I prefer sneaky :p
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Grayson was found as a young bird in June of 2010 in Grayson County, Virginia. She had fallen out of the
nest or was possibly pushed out of the nest by an older sibling.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Siblicide is common in the bird world and often the second or third chick that hatches in a clutch is
smaller and serves as a back-up in case things don’t work out with the first chicks.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Competition for food is great and typically the older sibling will push the younger sibling out of the nest
to ensure better access to food.
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Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Grayson suffered a fractured right humerus, as well as injury to her patagium – the skin covering the
leading edge of the wing.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Unfortunately, the wing fracture was very close to the shoulder joint, which meant that the Wildlife
Center vets could not pin the broken wing.
Chapin Hardy, WCV
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
You can see how Grayson's wing sticks out a little bit.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Instead, Grayson’s wing was bandaged, the patagium sutured, and she was cage-rested for a couple of
weeks. When the bandages were removed, the extension of the hawk’s injured wing was not what it
should be.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
After many sessions of physical therapy, the extension of the wing improved, but not nearly enough for
the Grayson to be a candidate for release.
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Chapin Hardy, WCV:
But since she was less than a year old and had a good disposition, she was the perfect candidate to be
an education ambassador!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Due to her small size, we though Grayson was a male and name “him” after the county “he” was found.
Then in the spring of 2012, she made it very clear that she was a girl ...
Comment From Lydia PA
Poor Grayson :(
Comment From Lois
LOL, she laid an egg
Comment From David in VA
Egg?
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
She laid not one but TWO eggs!
Chapin Hardy, WCV
Grayson's egg
Comment From David in VA
Good indication...
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Comment From Lydia PA
Hahahah I remember when those egg were laid! What a surprise
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
And she has laid two eggs every year since 2012. Maybe she really wants to make it clear that she is a
female.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
When training outreach docents or externs to handle raptors, Grayson is typically the first or second bird
they work with because she is … pardon the pun … unflappable.
Comment From Dawn in VB
Yea! she is my Critter that I "adopted" for a classroom. She is a wonderful Educational ambassador.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
She is very patient, calm, and great for new handlers to practice their new skills and get comfortable
with working with birds.
Chapin Hardy, WCV
Grayson with staff, volunteers, and outreach externs.
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Chapin Hardy, WCV:
She frequently becomes pretty comfortable with her new handlers fairly quickly and to their delight will
pick up one food and tuck it under her body. I like to call this “birdie yoga” and it’s a sign that she is
comfortable and relaxed.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Out on education programs, Grayson does an excellent job of helping the outreach staff teach children
and adults about migration. Broad-winged Hawks will migrate in the thousands down to Central and
South America –that’s about 3,450 miles!
Chapin Hardy, WCV
Comment From Lydia PA
Awww! She sounds fun!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Frequently we see these birds pass through Rockfish Gap on their way south. These birds aren’t
necessarily headed south because it is warmer, but because there is more food sources and less
competition with other predators.
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Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Since Grayson has plenty of food here at the Center during the winter, she doesn’t really feel too
compelled to migrate.
Chapin Hardy, WCV
Grayson doesn't mind the snow as long as there is food!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
She sometimes will get a little restless in the fall when she would be migrating, but usually after a week,
she is back to her laid back self.
Comment From Lois
Does she hear the migrating birds and talk to them?
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
She actually talks to us more than other birds.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Grayson is a pretty talkative bird. She frequently calls out to staff members (especially outreach) when
they pass by and will often make little sounds when out on the glove.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avgR1ZRGLpY
Comment From rejoyce
Made it just in time to say hi to Grayson!!!
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Comment From rejoyce
She really is beautiful!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
While on the glove, she makes a slightly different sound. It's sorta like a chirpy-chirpy sound instead of
her typical high-pitched keeeeee sound.
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Here is a video of Grayson modeling her anklets, jesses, swivel, and leash. You can here her making her
chirpy-chirpy sounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYtDbRfqtCI
Comment From Lydia PA
Love her calls/sounds
Comment From Dave in Missouri
Awesome, beautiful Hawk!
Comment From rejoyce
Well that will definitely get your attention :)
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
So if Grayson sounds like the education animal for you or someone you know, you can purchase a
sponsorship packet here: http://wildlifecenter.org/donate?qt-donation_page_tabs=1#qtdonation_page_tabs
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Also don’t forget today is GivingTuesday! Through your support we are able to continue to do our lifesaving work!
Chapin Hardy, WCV:
Hope you enjoyed Grayson’s time in the spotlight!
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Chapin Hardy, WCV
Photo property of Scott Turnmeyer
Comment From Lydia PA
Clap Clap clap!
๏๏)
We sure enjoyed Grayson, Chapin, thanks so MUCH!
Comment From rejoyce
Grayson is a great choice!
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