Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-10-16
TANNING TWO FISH HAWKS.
Taken as Baby Birds and Kept at the
Home of Captor.

For nearly three months now.
have had an opportunity to study two
fish hawks under what may be con-
sidered very unusual conditions. That
is to say, they are tanner than
domestic poultry, yet as free as the
air itself, coming and going precisely
when they choose.
| Wishing to study the habits or
these splendid birds at somewhat
closer range than is usually possible,
| took two well-feathered young ones
fIom their nest in the early summer
and brought thine home. We had
long railroad journey before us, so
ought supply of fish and from time
to time brought out my charges and
fed them on the train, much TO the
amusement of the other passengers in
the car. The larger of the two birds
fed freely, snatching the fish from my
hand, but the smaller one refused to
eat, and it was necessary to put the
food into her mouth, when she
swallowed it willingly
Next day we made a nest for the
birds out in the garden. 1t was raised
about three feet from the ground,
measured about four feet across and
was as nearly like their old home as
it could be made with oak boughs and
dry leaves. For several days the
little fellows lay still the greater part
of the time, with necks extended for
ward and heads prone on the floor of
the nest.
When they saw me coming with
fish they staggered to their feet,
quacking very much like ducks, lying
down again as soon as their hunger
was satisfied. The larger one main
tanned his lead, and no doubt will al
ways be bigger and more powerful
bird than his nest mate. AS they
grew, their appetite increased, and in
a few days they were eating between
Sla and 4 pounds of solid fish a day
between them.
As they grew older and as their
wings became longer, we used to take
them out into the fields and woods to
experiment with them. One day we
had them out in this way, when one
of them, perched on the outstretched
branch of tree, made an attempt to
ground, but finding that by using his
wings he could hold his own, he
worked harder and harder and pres
emily rose into the air..
Away he few for half mile, then
wheeled and flew back over our heads
and out of sight over the top OF
wood. y Thinking he might have
alighted within a mile or two, we
spent the rest of the afternoon in
searching for him, but without sue
cess, and we never expected to SEE
him again. Next morning, however,
my brother was walking through
wood, not far from the house, when
he heard the well-known notes of the
bird, and looking up. spied the fish
hawk in tree. The bird was evident.
ly hungry, and seeing a friend ap
proach, no doubt he considered 1t a
good time to call for aid. After
deal of trouble he was captured and
brought home.
A few days later we had him out
again, and again he flew away AS
we returned home without him, my
brother remarked: What a Joke 1t
would be II we found him on his
perch in the garden!"This was the
most unlikely possibility we could
think of yet there we found the
hawk, tearing to pieces the remains
of a fish. Nor did he attempt to fly
away when we approached. so we de-
cided that he should have his liberty
and do as he pleased.
For the first few days we kept the
other hawk tethered with a strap on
her leg, thinking that her presence
might be an additional inducement
for the free bird to return. Soon,
however, we set her at liberty also.
and ever since they have been more
like homing pigeons than wild hawks.
They roost on the chimney and
come down every day for the fish
which we always have ready for
them. If they are not bothered they
eat the fish in their old nest or in a
nearby perch, but II stranger ap-
proaches they will take UP their food
In one foot and fly with 1t either to
the chimney, neighbor's windmill,
or any convenient dead tree.
| 1t was not long before they began
to fish little on their own account Ill
a small lake not far from the house.
| was witness to one of the first at
tempts, and 1t was not by any means
a success. After sailing about over
the water for several minutes, the
hawk evidently saw a fish, for he
hung fiuttering over the spot, and
then made very slow and clumsy
4 plunge. The fish had plenty of time
to escape, and no doubt he did so.
+, The hawk disappeared under the
water, but presently came to the sur
face. where for several seconds he
vainly beat his wings in an effort to
rise into the air. Then he lay quite
still, and was so afraid that he was
going to drown that | began to un.
dress to go to his assistance. A mo-
ment later, however, he made
mighty effort arose dripping wet, and
squared away for his old perch on
the chimney, where he dried his
plumage in the sun.