Well, I had a bit of a birdie adventure this weekend...
The Daily Bucket is a regular series from the Backyard Science group. Here we talk about Mother Nature in all her glory, especially the parts that live nearby. So let us know (as close as you are comfortable) where you are and what's going on around you. What's the weather like? Seen any interesting plants, bugs or critters? Are there birds at your feeders? Deer, foxes or peahens in your yard? Seen any cool rocks or geological features? Post your observations and notes here. And photos. We like lots of photos. :)
Sunday night, I was walking to the downtown bus center in Nashville to catch a ride to the Walmart. As I walked towards the Tennessee State Museum, on 5th Avenue, I saw a group of people gathered on the sidewalk looking at something, and somebody nearby told me there was a hawk on the sidewalk. I expected to see a Redtail eating a pigeon or something. Instead there was a full-grown Peregrine Falcon, staring intently at all the people surrounding it, very pissed off. When someone leaned forward with a cellphone for a picture, the Falcon fluttered along the sidewalk, unable to get airborne, and let out an angry screech. It was obviously injured.
Immediately, I noticed two things: it had a tuft of ruffled feathers on the side of its head, and neither of its wings looked like they were drooping. So I assumed that it had probably flown into something, and that if it had a broken wing, it didn't seem to be a bad break. It could probably be rehabilitated.
Just then somebody who had been talking on a cellphone announced that the cops were on their way. Well, I knew that the cops wouldn't be of much use to the bird, so I suggested he call the Nashville Zoo--they might either have a rescue team or know of someone in the area who did bird rehab. Hunter, as it turned out his name was, got back on the phone.
One of the folks gathered round was the security guard from the Museum, so I went over and asked him to help me keep people away from the bird, since every time someone moved towards it for a picture the Falcon got agitated, and I didn't want him to either injure his wing further or nab some onlooker with his talons. Since the security guard was in uniform, people listened to him, and everyone eased back.
By now, Hunter had been on the phone for about ten minutes, and told us that the zoo had given him the number of a rehabber to call, but he got no answer. He had also called the cops again. But now he had to leave--he was on his way to work. That left me and the security guard as the people "in charge". So as the onlookers left and new ones arrived, we tried to keep everyone at a distance from the Falcon. And we waited for the cops.
And we waited.
And waited.
After 45 minutes, it was starting to get dark, and the only people still there were me, the security guard, and two or three onlookers. Now, we had to make a decision. I had to leave in about 30 minutes to catch my bus home, and the security guard had to get back inside the museum to close up. So... what to do with the bird? I decided that when it became time for us to leave, we would attempt to "herd" the Falcon through the doors into the museum's doorway vestibule, lock him in there overnight, and the museum staff would try to contact someone at the zoo in the morning who could arrange for either a local rehabber, or maybe someone at the state or federal wildlife service, to come and get the bird. At least the Falcon would be safe in there from cats, cars, and local teenagers. There was nothing else we could do.
Then, fortunately, the Falcon took matters into his own, uh, wings. For the past hour, he had been mostly unmoving, just staring at everyone around him. Every so often he would try to take off, but he seemed unbalanced and couldn't get off the ground. Now, just as were about to work out a plan to get him in the doorway, he made another takeoff attempt. But this time, instead of running up the sidewalk, he fluttered directly out into the traffic. Instantly I followed him into the street to stop the cars, and when I turned to look back at him, he was FLYING. With a few strokes he went over the fence on the other side of the street, crossed a parking lot, and disappeared behind one of the buildings.
The security guard and I looked at each other and in the same instant we both burst out in exhilarated laughter.
Apparently the Falcon had knocked himself silly by flying into a window or something, and just needed some time to clear the cobwebs from his head.
It was absolutely the best-case scenario.