Nature Hitchhikers

Hitchhikers · 06:23 PM

Ok, this is not the best quality photo in the world. However, it is a photo of a red-tailed hawk named Harry, who hitched a ride (along with his buddy McAllister) from the Wild Bird Fund to the Raptor Trust in New Jersey last weekend with Mr frogoutofwater and me.

Harry and McAllister were found injured in NYC (Harry was shot with a BB gun, McAllister was emaciated), were rescued and were brought to the WBF for care. The WBF can handle the initial treatment but raptors are better off at the Raptor Trust if they need longer-term rehab. My husband and I were headed out to NJ to run some errands on Sunday, so we volunteered to transport these guys.

Harry wasn't going to cooperate with me setting up a flash, and he was under some stress, so I went for a high ISO shot and f/4 (hoping to get enough depth of field).

Flylooper · 03-04-2015, 07:29 AM

It seems a lttlle noisy and out of focus, but honestly, I'm not using the best computer screen in the world. ( I need to fix that!!

)

**TimR** · 03-04-2015, 12:55 PM

Nice picture of Harry. Thanks for sharing the pic and the story.
Is there a photo of McAllister?

sherrvonne · 03-04-2015, 02:45 PM - **1 Like**

High ISO o not, any chance to see and photograph such a bird up close is fantastic.

theoicarry · 03-05-2015, 09:30 AM

Shot with a BB gun, People are just great. Thank goodness we have these Raptor organizations. We have one around here which release eagles back into the wild and any other Raptors which have been saved.

**frogoutofwater** · 03-05-2015, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by Flylooper

It seems a lttlle noisy and out of focus, but honestly, I'm not using the best computer screen in the world. ( I need to fix that!!

)

Yep, noisy for sure. I don't usually share photos unless I think they're good quality, but these were special circumstances and I figured those who love wildlife (and raptors in particular) would appreciate this.

Originally posted by TimR

Nice picture of Harry. Thanks for sharing the pic and the story.
Is there a photo of McAllister?

Here's McAllister (and even poorer quality photo): This was taken while he was in transit from his enclosure to the Paper Towel Box we used to transport him to the Raptor Trust.

Originally posted by theoicarry

Shot with a BB gun, People are just great. Thank goodness we have these Raptor organizations. We have one around here which release eagles back into the wild and any other Raptors which have been saved.

Don't get me started.

Rupert · 03-06-2015, 06:48 AM

Regardless of the IQ it is a nice shot of a beautiful bird. I took the liberty of using Focus Magic on one half of your image..it is a great program I use often. See if you can tell the difference?

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129469263@N03/16539219409" title="IMGP0721-800 by James Williams, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8642/16539219409_a7e80caced.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="IMGP0721-800"></a>

Sorry that some idiot shot him.I have tried to take the BB guns away from Otis and his Army of Squirrels, but his only response was "boys will be boys".

Best Regards!

Get well soon big birdie!

Last edited by Rupert; 05-17-2015 at 07:58 PM.

Flylooper · 03-06-2015, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by frogoutofwater

Yep, noisy for sure. I don't usually share photos unless I think they're good quality, but these were special circumstances and I figured those who love wildlife (and raptors in particular) would appreciate this.

Here's McAllister (and even poorer quality photo): This was taken while he was in transit from his enclosure to the Paper Towel Box we used to transport him to the Raptor Trust.

Don't get me started.

That reminds me: We have a raptor recovery center right here in Eugene, OR. I was up there a couple of years ago. Raptors of all kinds. Same idea. Just plain mean spirited people shoot at these birds all the time.

I need to get up there and try my hand at this, too.

Rupert · 03-06-2015, 10:33 AM

Originally posted by Flylooper

Just plain mean spirited people shoot at these birds all the time.

Unfortunately, that is all too true. Unless a person is hungry and in need of shooting wildlife for food, I find it all brutal and inhumane. I can understand it when it is necessary to thin out deer and such when they are starving...but just for sport.....no way.

Regards!

**TimR** · 03-06-2015, 12:47 PM

Thanks for posting the photo of McAllister.

**frogoutofwater** · 03-10-2015, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Flylooper

That reminds me: We have a raptor recovery center right here in Eugene, OR. I was up there a couple of years ago. Raptors of all kinds. Same idea. Just plain mean spirited people shoot at these birds all the time.

I need to get up there and try my hand at this, too.

Actually, it was a spur-of-the-moment visit to the Raptor Center in Eugene OR with my dad that first got me really interested in bird rehabilitation. After that visit, I went back to NYC and discovered that there was a wild bird rehab center that I could get to by subway (!) and I became a member. I started going to some of their walks in Central Park and soon after, decided to start volunteering as a caregiver (and occasional photographer).

Last year, my husband sponsored a turkey vulture at the Eugene Center in my name and my sister and I went to visit her on vacation last May

We had a private tour, which was really interesting.

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03-04-2015, 07:29 AM	#2
Flylooper Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: McKenzie River Valley, Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 80	It seems a lttlle noisy and out of focus, but honestly, I'm not using the best computer screen in the world. ( I need to fix that!! )

03-04-2015, 12:55 PM	#3
TimR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 344	Nice picture of Harry. Thanks for sharing the pic and the story. Is there a photo of McAllister?

03-04-2015, 02:45 PM - 1 Like	#4
sherrvonne Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,975	High ISO o not, any chance to see and photograph such a bird up close is fantastic.

03-05-2015, 09:30 AM	#5
theoicarry Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 316	Shot with a BB gun, People are just great. Thank goodness we have these Raptor organizations. We have one around here which release eagles back into the wild and any other Raptors which have been saved.

03-06-2015, 06:48 AM	#7
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Regardless of the IQ it is a nice shot of a beautiful bird. I took the liberty of using Focus Magic on one half of your image..it is a great program I use often. See if you can tell the difference? <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/129469263@N03/16539219409" title="IMGP0721-800 by James Williams, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8642/16539219409_a7e80caced.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="IMGP0721-800"></a> Sorry that some idiot shot him.I have tried to take the BB guns away from Otis and his Army of Squirrels, but his only response was "boys will be boys". Best Regards! Get well soon big birdie! Last edited by Rupert; 05-17-2015 at 07:58 PM.

03-06-2015, 09:42 AM	#8
Flylooper Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: McKenzie River Valley, Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 80	Originally posted by frogoutofwater Yep, noisy for sure. I don't usually share photos unless I think they're good quality, but these were special circumstances and I figured those who love wildlife (and raptors in particular) would appreciate this. Here's McAllister (and even poorer quality photo): This was taken while he was in transit from his enclosure to the Paper Towel Box we used to transport him to the Raptor Trust. Don't get me started. That reminds me: We have a raptor recovery center right here in Eugene, OR. I was up there a couple of years ago. Raptors of all kinds. Same idea. Just plain mean spirited people shoot at these birds all the time. I need to get up there and try my hand at this, too.

03-06-2015, 10:33 AM	#9
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by Flylooper Just plain mean spirited people shoot at these birds all the time. Unfortunately, that is all too true. Unless a person is hungry and in need of shooting wildlife for food, I find it all brutal and inhumane. I can understand it when it is necessary to thin out deer and such when they are starving...but just for sport.....no way. Regards!

03-06-2015, 12:47 PM	#10
TimR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 344	Thanks for posting the photo of McAllister.

03-10-2015, 11:56 AM	#11
frogoutofwater Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 674 Original Poster	Originally posted by Flylooper That reminds me: We have a raptor recovery center right here in Eugene, OR. I was up there a couple of years ago. Raptors of all kinds. Same idea. Just plain mean spirited people shoot at these birds all the time. I need to get up there and try my hand at this, too. Actually, it was a spur-of-the-moment visit to the Raptor Center in Eugene OR with my dad that first got me really interested in bird rehabilitation. After that visit, I went back to NYC and discovered that there was a wild bird rehab center that I could get to by subway (!) and I became a member. I started going to some of their walks in Central Park and soon after, decided to start volunteering as a caregiver (and occasional photographer). Last year, my husband sponsored a turkey vulture at the Eugene Center in my name and my sister and I went to visit her on vacation last May We had a private tour, which was really interesting.