Two days ago I called Bill West, Project Leader at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the Centennial Valley of sw Montana, to ask him about the effects of the recent forest fires and resulting smoke in the area. It was Bill who had contacted Ryan Moehring of the US Fish and Wildlife Service about my recent banded Prairie Falcon post. Ryan was interested enough in the story of how I, with significant help from some of my readers (thanks again, especially to Mike Shaw), was able to track down the original bander of that falcon that he included a post about it on the USFWS Facebook page.
During the conversation Bill told me about an incident that immediately got my attention. On a recent early morning a refuge staff member was driving on one of the refuge roads when he noticed someone taking pictures of something next to the road. The staff member stopped to investigate and it turned out to be an injured Prairie Falcon. There was blood under the wing and the falcon couldn’t fly but the wing wasn’t broken.
Bill believes the bird is a juvenile Prairie Falcon, just like “my” banded bird that I became so fond of. The injured falcon was found within a very short distance of where I photographed the banded bird a few weeks ago.
As you can imagine I immediately asked Bill if the injured bird was banded. Thankfully his answer was no so it wasn’t the bird (“my” bird) in this image (it has remnants of its last meal on its bill).
I hate to play favorites but I became quite attached to this young falcon when it let me get so close for so long while I was photographing it and then learned some of its history, from banding to its flight to Montana from California as such a young bird, that I’ll admit that if a falcon had to be injured I’m glad it wasn’t this one.
But this may have been the falcon with the injury. I photographed this Prairie Falcon in the same general area the day after I photographed the banded bird. It was frantically hunting grasshoppers in the aftermath of a storm that had quickly moved through (thus the poor light and image quality). You can see one of the “hoppers” scurrying out of the way under the right wing of the falcon.
The cause of the injury is unknown. It’s doubtful it was hit by a vehicle – the road is rough, traffic is rare and slow and falcons are lightening fast. There are many fences in the area, especially along the road, so one possibility might be that the young and inexperienced bird was injured as it tried to snag one of the many passerines that perch on the fences. We’ll likely never know what happened.
Now to the real point of this post.
Bill matter of factly stated that they retrieved this bird and then made arrangements to deliver it to a rehab center in Bozeman, Montana. Given what he said about the injury I suspect it has a very good chance of eventually being released back into the wild.
You have to be familiar with this area to know that getting this bird to rehab wouldn’t be easy. It’s a 132 mile drive from the refuge to Bozeman and a significant amount of the road can be rough and treacherous, even in good weather. I don’t have any photos of the rougher parts but this shot includes the sign that warns of what lies ahead (or behind, depending on which way you’re going).
Bill and his staff have a huge refuge to run and I suspect that the logistics of such a daunting task could easily make priorities difficult to juggle. These folks made a significant effort for an individual bird and I think that says a lot.
I say kudos to them all!
Ron
Wonderful post Ron and I certainl;y do agree with you!
Charlotte
Your love for the birds is so apparent. Good news.
Guilty as charged, Jane. Good news, indeed.
How wonderful. I love the commitment shown – and really hope that the Prairie Falcon is released to fly free again. Thank you. Sooky smiles here this morning.
“Commitment” is the key word, Elephant’s Child – and they have it at Red Rock.
So glad the bird looks like it may be released. Rehabbers are truly amazing people — so generous with their time and spirit.
I know how attached we can get to wild birds — one of ‘my’ Kestrels was hit and killed this week. I was nearly in tears when I found her.
So sorry about your kestrel, Naomi. I can imagine how you feel…
Whew! I was cringing at the photographer taking photos of an injured bird (adding stress to injury)and am delighted and relieved to hear the refuge folks got him into care! Definitely huge kudos to them. Prairie falcons,due to their hunting style of coursing fairly low then putting on a burst of speed when prey is sighted, DO hit fences with some frequency,dislocating elbows or breaking bones. So hard to see that thin wire against a varied background when focused on a possible meal and traveling fast.
Thanks for your expert input, Louise. Your background and experience in these matters (Louise is Executive Director of the Cascades Raptor Center, a rehab facility in Eugene, Oregon) is very helpful in understanding these types of incidents.
Hi Ron – it’s a great story – every bird matters. The staff who care enough to take that brd to rehab, and the time-intensive rehab process itself are inspiring. Now, what about that smoke?
Betsy, As of Friday afternoon, the Eureka fire which is burning just north of the refuge was not growing significantly or moving toward the refuge. Their main concern with that fire is that it doesn’t go into the Madison. The Centennial Valley is relatively clear of smoke.
I’m really glad to know that the injured bird wasn’t ‘your’ bird – I understand what it’s like to become attached to a creature like that. It is very heartening to learn that refuge staff care so much about the wildlife. I think that’s probably true of the staff of most state and national parks and refuges. I think you have to love the wilderness and its life to want to work in such a place. Thank you for sharing such an uplifting story.
“I think you have to love the wilderness and its life to want to work in such a place.”
I agree, Susan. And I know that those who work and live at Red Rocks NWR have to endure incredible inconveniences, especially during winters, but the tradeoff is doing what you love in such an amazing setting.
I have to echo the kudos for our refuge and park staff. They do an awful lot as a matter of routine but, for me, they are heroic every day.
Great story and hope it truly does have a happy ending!
(Love the road sign picture. My kind of road!)
“for me, they are heroic every day.”
Well put, Wally. I’ll report back if I hear anything about the eventual fate of this falcon.
I couldn’t agree more with the kudos!!
Been there some time ago. As a matter of fact, when we (family camping) got to the border of Montana, the SKY just opened up. Big Sky country for a reason!! We had gorgeous weather on that trip, plus one of my ancestors started a RR in Montana!!
Great story, great pictures.
That “big sky” is amazing, isn’t it, Dick. Some day I’d like to hear the story about that Montana RR your ancestor started. My family has some history of freighting goods in huge wagons from Utah to the Montana goldfields in the 1870’s but eventually “your” railroads put an end to the freighting. I’m fascinated by that history.
Ron, We have twice visited the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. What a beautiful place. We have met many of the employees also, wonderful people. They deserve a great big Thanks. A big thank you to you too, for sharing your photos and blog.
Sue, I too have met quite a few of the refuge staff and volunteers and I’ve been impressed. They’re friendly (yet professional), very accommodating and several have gone out of their way to be helpful in challenging situations that inevitably pop up when you’re camping in such an isolated area.
Thank you for the kind words about my photos and blog.
It’s good to read stories like that, and I hope the bird makes it!
It was a “pick me up” story for me too, Sonja. There’s just so much bad news these days about both birds and people that a positive story about each of them gave me a much needed lift.