The White Hawk of Legacy Ridge
June 27, 2008
Filed under Journal
Update:
MyHawk, the albinistic Red Tailed Hawk that was struck at the Legacy Ridge Golf Course by a golf ball that fractured his wing is ready for release. He will soon be re-united with his mate of many years.
Stories on the 9 News Website:
White hawk continues to recuperate
‘My Hawk’ getting closer to being a free bird
He is a much loved, often photographed and greatly watched resident of Westminster, Colorado. He has lived near the Legacy Golf Course for at least eight years and raised a successful brood each year. His mate is a normal colored Red Tailed Hawk. He is an albinistic (partial albino) Red Tailed Hawk.
On April 19, of this year he arrived with blood and dirt stains on his brilliant white feathers, trailing his left wing on the ground. He was reported to have been struck by a golf ball, sustaining a serious fracture to his left humerus. Two days later he underwent surgery by our fabulous Veterinarian, Dr. Lee Eggleston of Colorado Springs.
I named the bird “MyHawk” due to all the inquiries from people that have a special place in their hearts for this unique bird: “How is My Hawk doing?”
On May 16th the steel pin in his wing was removed, and on May 21h 2008 he was moved outside into our 100 foot flight cage to begin his recovery by exercising and working hard to fly across the cage effortlessly.
My Hawk is magnificent and rather arrogant. He seems to know he is special. The first thing he did when I removed him from his carrier was bite me in the finger hard enough to draw blood. Even that was an honor.
During all the weeks of his stay in ICU he kept his distance as each day we presented “alms” of good intention. However, he never missed a meal.
He has a dark spot on the back of his head, dark, beautiful brown eyes and three red feathers on right side of his tail tail. His talons are ivory white but his beak is black.
I have a folder on my desktop that is called “White Things”. Someone sent me a photograph of him long before he was injured. It is our hope that he will recover and be returned to his home soon to raise many more generations of Red Tailed Hawks with his spirit and attitude in the future. What a special bird he is!
Stories
I am so happy to learn that “Cloud” (that’s what a friends daughter nicknamed My Hawk) is not dead but in fact only healing. I have missed seeing him on my daily work route. Thank you for taking care of him!
My husband has spotted a white raptor of some sort near the Capon river in Yellow Springs,WV. He was able to get a far off picture of it. I wonder if it is also and albino hawk. We have many red tailed hawk in this area, as well as eagles and falcons. We are trying to find someone who has some knowledge of this bird in this area.
The albino has been a touchstone for us since he arrived in Westminster. He helped me deal with my mother’s passing. I am so grateful he is in your care, Sigrid. Thank-you. Please keep us posted.
We saw the albino on his usual perch today! What a sight! We have missed him so much. Thank you, Sigrid! Thanks to everyone at Birds of Prey!
Has anyone seen My Hawk in 2009?
This amazing bird was sighted by myself after my mother passed away from cancer years ago. This hawk is very spiritual and I beleive it carries my mothers spirit before she makes her final passage. I was very glad to see it recovered and was re- released as we watch for it in its favorate tree each time we drive by.Thank You so much!
My son and I spotted him shortly before St. Patrick’s Day. Two birds soaring high above their nesting area like beautiful white clouds.
I was so happy to have seen these majestic creatures and even happier that my son visiting from out of state was able to see them too.
We see the hawk every other week or so. He’s an amazing site! I’m so glad he’s back & healthy!!
We spotted a albino red tail hawk for two days in a row outside of Lawton, Oklahoma. STUNNING!! We went back w/camera in hand and it must have sensed we wanted a photo because as soon as we turned around it flew off in a whole new direction. We couldn’t figure out what it was so we kept driving back to the same area for several days in a row, however, we haven’t seen it for two days now. Hopefully we will catch another glimpse and possibly a photo as well.
My son reported he saw a white hawk a few days ago. I was driving in that same area today and it flew over my car and perched. I stopped my car and rolled down the window to say hello to him and he answered in a very loud, different screech than the red-tailed hawks in our neighborhood. My little sons were so excited too. The six year old saying, “I’ve just got my first gift from God.”
Our family has been very blessed by the visits of raptors this year in a profound way. We are enduring a very challenging situation which involves the future safety of my sons in a long custody battle.
A bald eagle came to me one day as I was heading off to another court date and the most amazing grace swept over me. It soared over my car about twenty feet in the air. It was definately meant for me as no one else passed on the road. A month later in the same area the eagle jumped down in front of my car. I had to stop the car. He bounced three or four times, rose up and circled around over my car then perched in a pine next to me and looked down at me as if to say, “I’m right here…not to worry”
I’ve been in love with raptors for years, but never had such close encounters with them like this. Thank you, God.
We’re from Eliot, Maine which is in the southern tip of Maine bordering New Hampshire.
I believe that I saw “your Hawk” “White Cloud” or a relative of the same yesterday 9/22/09 around 1:30 pm flying over my truck at about 112th ans Sheridan in the Westminster/Arvada, Co area. I see many hawks and recently did my 9 spirit animal cards. The Red Tailed hawk showed itself as my “inner Spirit. What a treat to see this magnifacent winged one flying right over my windshield. I’m happy to hear that others in the area have had the same treat!
I thank you for looking over my family[The Raptor nation] that has watched over me since birth-many signs come thru this entity and lead a rightious path for us two legged-A happy ending to an injury-soaring as we speak!!
The albino hawk you speak of lives in the tree line of my yard here in Eliot and feeds on my chickens. I had no idea that was where he lived until one day I went down to feed the “girls” and we both surprised each other. He was feeding on one of the girls and I didn’t see him until he launched into air and circled. I had no idea what kind of bird it was as he was so white. I had never seen anything like him before. After talking to a few neighbors and a bird expert in the area I was informed that he nests in our tree line. He is very elusive when it comes to photographs. You can’t get very close. I was just able to get a few shots of him finally but unfortunately you have to zoom right in on the photo as he took flight right away and it’s a gray do say he blends right into the sky. He is a beautiful and amazing creature and I feel very fortunate to have him here.
I saw the beautiful albino hawk of westminster today. What a wonderful sight.