KEOWAH
Species: Buteo jamaicensis, Red-tailed Hawk • Hatch Year: 1998 • Sex: Male • Disability: Human Imprint
‘Keowah,’ was found at three weeks of age with an injury to his back, probably as a result from an attack from another bird. The wound was severely infected and required a lot of attention from the staff at the AEF. Because of the handling necessary to treat his injury, we believe he is human imprinted and therefore cannot be returned to the wild. Keowah now participates in educational programs.
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
Red-tailed hawks are commonly called ‘chicken hawks,’ but it’s a name they don’t deserve because they rarely eat chickens. They eat mostly rodents, but will also eat various mammals, reptiles, birds, and sometimes even venomous snakes. The first year of life is a daunting experience for young Red-tailed hawks—only 50 percent live to see their second Spring. Hawks have incredible eyesight. It is believed that if a Red-tailed Hawk could read, it could decipher the headline on a newspaper from a mile away.