Just off the phone with Bruce (the vet taking care of Henry). He indicates there is some improvement. Henry is a bit more feisty about being handled. That's a good thing. He is receiving fluids intravenously and is very weak. He is still not eating. That's a major issue. The tipping issue is improving.

I will stop in tonight after work to see him. All the folks around here have adopted him and are rooting for his full recovery.

I visited Henry today. He's incrementally better, not eating yet. Much more responsive. Less tilt. Still not out of the woods. He's really in a great place and is watched over by a big old white goose named Bill!

I asked a lot of questions. Turns our Henry is a VERY young hawk, probably a fledgling, which may explain his accident. Because of his age it is difficult to determine his real sex. When mature the males tend to be skinny, tall, and have big fluffy legs, while the females are shorter, more rotund, and have little or no leg feathers. Henry is rotund and fluffy which would suggest female (Henrietta) but they weren't at all sure, so I'll call him Henry for now. I made preliminary contact with Wild Wings in Mendon as a possible site where Henry could prosper if he can't go back to the wild. This is more likely again because of his age. Even if he recovers, he may not have learned to hunt yet, will be hand fed and may become human imprinted while he is in recovery. I did check and I can get a permit to have him at home but I don't think that would be the best thing for Henry. If I had a farm there would be no question. I have time to consider other options.

News flash! Just got off the phone with the vet! Henry is eating! He's going to make it! They're feeding him dead baby chicks, I'm sure that fact will set off a squalor, but I'll post it anyway. It is the way Henry eats to survive.

All the folks here at Unisys have signed a huge Get Well card for Henry. I'll take it to him tomorrow and get more pictures including one of Bill, the goose!

I visited Henry yesterday (8/6). They had him in the flight enclosure, checking out his ability to be released. I couldn't take pictures because it could disturb Henry's activities. he looked great and Bruce and I were getting really excited about releasing him.

So, it would seem, was Henry.

After about a half hour Bruce went in to retrieve Henry. His approach was calculated and cautious as Henry is a big bird and very aware of his surroundings... or so we thought. Bruce approached from Henry's left as he stood on a perch. Henry should have been nervous and evasive.

NOTHING....

Bruce was able to walk very quietly right up to Henry and touch him BEFORE Henry knew he was there. Bruce was dejected - he even cried.

I would appear that Henry is blind in his left eye, the side that hit the building.

I cried also.

What next? It's kind of out of our hands for the moment. The Feds (DEC) step in. Vet's have to get together and make a recommendation. The Feds make the final decision. Henry is a member of a federally protected species. There is no clear consensus as to whether Henry could stand a chance in the wild.

Meanwhile all of Henry's other faculties have returned to normal and he thrashes about in his regular cage, wanting desperately to get out. Bruce has promised to give him as much flight enclosure time as possible. I am on the phone with Wild Wings and looking for other alternatives if he can't be released. I will probably have to pay for building an enclosure for him, as there doesn't seem to be "any room at the inn" right now.

My preference would be to let him go in an area remote from human activity and constructs. I think he could make it there. He can hunt (that was one of the tests) and his lack of depth perception would most likely have a minimal effect in that environment. Things like power wires, buildings, moving vehicles and roads are already a hazard for these birds as the are profoundly tunnel-visioned, even with both eyes working. He'd have a really hard time in those conditions. I have a friend who has such a farm down south and am already in contact with him. He is a REAL animal lover - makes me look llike a piker.

I'm also looking into getting a federal license to keep Henry. I won't keep him at my place but rather at my friend's. Together we can build him the kind of enclosure where he can enjoy life as best as possible if he can't be released. It's not one of those things where we could release him when nobody's looking. The feds check regularly and taking such an action is a major federal offense.

I'm being a bit selfish about holding the license, but I feel responsible for Henry, and I guess that's my way of making sure he's got the best that can be provided should captivity be his only option.

Hopefully a decision within a week, two at the most. I pray that release is a real possibility. My fingers are crossed, as is my heart.

Visited Henry. No change, other than his tail is getting frayed from jostling around in his cage which is about a 2 foot cube. I'm going to deliver a larger cage tomorrow if they will accept it.

I can get a license to keep Henry; the DEC was very helpful. If he can't be released, one of my options is to build a garage sized (or bigger) enclosure for him on a friend's property. Both I and my friend would need to have the license. The DEC requires a Federal Fish and Game license before they will process my application. They tell me that it’s not easy to get.

I will be visiting Wild Wings in Mendon today to talk to the director and view their facilities.

Meanwhile the people in charge will be making a decision as early as tomorrow but probably Monday. The options are as follows;

1) Release Henry immediately assuming he can compensate (all of us prefer this option).

2) Hold Henry for further evaluation and help him compensate for his blind eye with the view toward eventual release.

3) Declare Henry "unable to survive in the wild" - then develop the best environment for him so he can enjoy his life as much as possible.

We now know a lot more about Henry.

He is in all probability a male; smaller, slimmer, and with the legs that are typical fo males. There are no color or plumage differentiations between male and female red-tails.

He was probably born in early March, fledged in May and weaned (parents left him) in mid to late July.

We think we have spotted his parents in the area of our building....beautiful!!

Great news! It took most of the day Friday August 10th, but the vets finally concurred and Henry will be released today! We found lots of documentation of similar cases where large birds have survived with no problems! We know what is wrong. Henry lost the lens in his left eye in his collision. It won't get better and it won't get worse.

Henry is one happy bird!

I visited Wild Wings yesterday. Henry would have gone there if he wasn't released. It's a wonderful place with wonderful people running it. It's pretty new (1.5 years) and is open to the public 10AM - 2PM except Wednesdays. That's very unusual for Raptor rescue centers. They have red-tails, goldens, and a bald eagle named Athena, among others! They also have a Bobcat named Tara. The animals stories are all very heart wrenching.

Henry is gone, released early this morning in a rural area east of the city. I couldn’t be there but I could see it in my minds eye. Bruce said he was majestic as he soared to the top of a nearby apple tree, looked back only briefly and climbed high into the sky on his way to freedom. I miss him already; a human thing I guess. I know he is much better off and I have his images to remind me. I have learned so much, experienced so much, grown so much. I have Henry to thank.