Brook (Swainson’s Hawk)
(Buteo swainsoni
Swainson’s
Hawks can have variable plumage, but all have a yellow patch at the base of
their bills, yellow legs, and feet, and dark brown eyes. They prefer open
country like fields, meadows, prairie and shelter belts (wild areas between
agricultural fields). They hunt insects, snakes, birds, and small to medium
rodents. They migrate to Central and
South America in large flocks catching thermals to gain altitude before gliding
for long distances. They will travel
from 11,000-15,000 miles to South America.
Brook was found as a one-month old baby with a broken
wind and leg. Both injuries were severe
enough to make him non-releasable. We
have been working with him to use him as an educational bird. His deformed leg has healed well enough to
support him even when perching, but he is still clumsy in his efforts to move
around.