On that splendid summer afternoon, as they soaked up the sun and refreshed themselves in the cool waters, the attendees of a pool party in El Dorado County, California, never anticipated that something extraordinary could occur.
Yet, one of the guests spotted something unusual within the pool filter as he lifted the lid. A closer inspection revealed an unexpected visitor inside.
Once the other guests at the pool realized who was trapped inside, they opted to refrain from intervening themselves and instead called for rescuers to assist.
Cluster of Feathers
Upon receiving a call about a distressed animal trapped in a filter, employees of Sierra Wildlife Rescue (SWR), a rescue organization located in Diamond Springs, California, dispatched a rescuer to the scene.
Upon arrival and opening the lid, he quickly identified the creature trapped in the filter as a red-shouldered hawk. As detailed in a SWR Facebook post, the hawk had fallen into the pool while seeking a drink and subsequently became trapped in the filter.
This unfortunate bird was found lying still in the water, unable to escape its predicament. “[O]nce a bird’s feathers get that wet, they are unable to fly,” explained Debbie Buckles, president of SWR, in a conversation with The Dodo.
While it would have been ideal for the party attendees to act swiftly, the rescuer took the scenario very seriously and arrived just in time to preserve this hawk’s life.
Challenging but Successful Rehabilitation
The hawk was in a dire state when the rescuer located him within the pool filter. “While extracting the hawk from the pool filter, [he] was unresponsive, exceedingly fatigued [and] soaked,” stated Debbie.
Even upon arrival at the rehabilitation center, his condition remained precarious. Despite the extremely warm temperatures outside, the hawk could not stop trembling due to the prolonged exposure to the cold water.
However, the dedicated team was determined not to give up, and eventually they succeeded in reviving him.
“Using a hair dryer on a low setting and a gentle approach, every feather was meticulously separated and preened. The hawk was able to warm up and restore his feathers,” explained Debbie.
He was provided with optimal nutrition and antibiotics for a fortnight, which yielded great results – the transformation of this hawk was remarkable.
Returned to His Natural Habitat
After two weeks of challenging yet successful rehabilitation, Debbie noted that this remarkable hawk had fully regained his “feisty personality” and “strength and flight capabilities.”
This signaled that he was prepared for a fresh start. The rescuer who saved him from the pool filter had the honor of setting him free.
“As the rescuer donned gloves and lifted the hawk toward the sky, [he] paused for a moment on the glove, observing his surroundings. Then, the hawk gazed into the rescuer’s eyes as if to express gratitude before soaring into the air,” recounted Debbie.
It was a truly enchanting moment that reaffirmed to the rescuer once more the value of enduring the challenges associated with this vocation.
The satisfaction lies in witnessing these creatures return to the freedom they rightfully deserve, and that experience is priceless.
