Pierce
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus

As a young hawk in the spring of 1996, Pierce fell from her nest and fractured her left wing. Unable to get back into the nest, she was attacked by red ants while she lay on the ground. Numerous bites on her face and foot resulted in the loss of her right eye and the back toe, also known as the hallux or "kill claw," on her left foot.

Her wing was surgically repaired, but has a noticeable droop which hinders her flight ability. Even if the wing had healed perfectly, Pierce would have been non-releasable due to her other injuries. Due to her uncharacteristically quiet nature, it was felt that Pierce would work well as an education bird and she found a permanent home at The Avian Reconditioning Center. Young hawks are quite active, so during her recuperation period Pierce was often allowed to wander about in a specially prepared area. This area is designed to insure the bird's safety while allowing it to stretch its wings and exercise. "Crinkle sacks" (pillow cases filled with crumpled newspaper) are offered as cushioning and act as a nest cup for young birds. A variety of objects, including small stuffed animals and dog-chew toys, are offered to provide stimulation and help improve coordination. It was her habit of looking up with a "piercing" stare at anyone walking by that earned her the name "Pierce."

As with most raptor species, males and females look alike with females generally being the larger bird. As a young bird, Pierce was small and therefore assumed to be a male. However, in the spring of 2002, she laid an egg!

Pierce's lakeside mew is large and airy and whenever she feels a breeze, she extends her wings as far as she's able and glides in place. As the wind shifts, she firmly grasps her perch and leans forward into the rushing air compensating for gusts by adjusting her wing position. Pierce seems to enjoy this "virtual soaring" and it's quite entertaining to watch her fly without ever leaving her perch!

Like most members of her species, Pierce is quite vocal and she will often call to a pair of wild Red-shouldered Hawks living in the vicinity. The pair will answer and often fly over to investigate, resulting in a cacaphonous exchange.

    Pierce can be sponsored through the Adopt-a-Bird program.
    Call 407-461-1056 or e-mail info@adoptabird.org for details
    on how you can make Pierce a part of your family!

Print an adoption form...

...or click on the link below to place your adoption on-line!