Red-shouldered Hawk Release Scheduled for May 1st at Brookgreen Gardens

Provided

Join the Avian Conservation Center at Brookgreen Gardens on Wednesday, May 1st at 10:30 am for a special opportunity to see a wild Red-shouldered Hawk return to the forest after being treated at the Center’s Avian Medical Clinic. The release will occur behind the Lowcountry Center at the edge of the rice fields. Admission for the event includes access to Brookgreen Gardens and is $18 for adults, $10 for children age 4-12, $16 for seniors 65 and older, and free for children 3 and under.

The bird being released was admitted to the Avian Medical Clinic in February after being found on the side of a busy highway unable to fly. When it arrived at the clinic, it was thoroughly examined and radiographs were taken to identify any internal injuries or fractures. In addition to a managed nutritional plan and treatment for pain, medical care included physical therapy and monitored exercise in an enclosure designed specifically for extended flight until the bird achieved full and robust flight capabilities.

Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) are a familiar part of the auditory fabric of forested areas east of the Mississippi as well as along a portion of the California coast. Their distinctive call is frequent and recognizable. They can be found in deciduous woodlands where water is prevalent, such as bottom land or swampy areas along floodplains. Nest fidelity brings them back to the same nesting grounds each year. Although in the Buteo Genus, these birds are extraordinary forest hunters with agility similar to an Accipter, which allows them to fly quickly and efficiently under the forest canopy. A medium-sized hawk, they prey upon amphibians, small mammals, snakes and lizards, and sometimes songbirds, as well. Their colorful plumage is russet colored along the shoulders and chest with a notable dark and light checkered pattern on the wings.

Come celebrate nature with the Avian Conservation Center and Brookgreen Gardens as they partner to return this bird to its natural habitat on Wednesday, May 1st at 10:30 am. Brookgreen Gardens contains thousands of acres of preserved habitat perfect for this bird including stands of long-leaf pine and vast healthy marshlands. As partners in conservation, the Center is thrilled to share this experience with the Brookgreen Garden community.

Click here for more info.

Brookgreen Gardens is located at 1931 Brookgreen Dr. in Murrells Inlet.

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