SHILOH
Species: Buteo jamaicensis, Red-tailed Hawk • Hatch Year: 2015 • Sex: Male • Disability: Wing injury
Shiloh first came to the AEF as a rehab bird in March 2017. He had suffered a metacarpal fracture in his right wing and was unable to completely extend that wing. He received lots of rest and physical therapy, but never regained the ability to extend his right wing, which left him unable to fly.
Even though Shiloh cannot fly, he has become an excellent educational ambassador. He has thrived at target training around his enclosure and one of his favorite activities seems to be stalking squirrels that he sees outside his mew. Shiloh often accompanies staff to outreach programs, visiting schools and teaching children about the importance of Red-Tailed Hawks in the wild!
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.