Hawk - Elias

Meet "Elias". Back in Dec 2003/Jan 2004 Judy had a unique house guest when she lived in Poços de Caldas. Her daughter Lucia is a vet. The Guarda Verde (Green Police) in Poços de Caldas would bring injured animals or birds they found to Lucia to save them.

Often they ended up in Judy's house. She became the unofficial "Recovery Nurse" after surgery. Her house often becomes a "Convalescent Hospital". You could find almost anything in her house.

This time it was a hawk they named Elias. His wing had been broken. These hawks are common in Brasil and resemble the Black Vulture in size and flying or cruising style. They can often be seen soaring over the mountains in Águas da Prata





Elias came to "The Hospital" along with some other birds and animals. This was the recovery room.





Lucia had pinned his wings and he survived. But he was never to fly again.




He could hop around though. Once he recovered he liked to sit in the window and watch all the dogs and turtles in the front yard.




Judy was supplied with special gloves for handling Elias. His sharp claws actually did punctuyre these thick special Hawk gloves.





It was time to take Elias to a sanctuary. A local farmer agreed to look after him.




See how big his wing was.




And see the adoring look he gives his "nurse"!



This is the farm where Elias was to stay.




He was brought to the farm in this cage and allowed to rest until he got comfortable. Yes, that is a dog's nose in the lower left corner checking him out!





This is Elias' new house. Look who his neighbours are. Could that be future dinner next door?





A few hours after arrival Elias steps out to inspect his new home.


Elias was well looked after but many months later he escaped and walked away, never to be seem again.


Here are a couple photos of a hawk sitting on a fence post in the wild.




This Hawk was photographed on the fence post by Urso Branco. They are difficult to photograph because they don't stay around people too much.




Photos by Judy Kennedy