Adopt Cora the American Kestrel

Description

Cora, one of our newest avian ambassadors, is a female American Kestrel who came to us in April 2024. Our rescue dispatcher Evelyn took the call for what was thought to be a grounded hawk in Estancia, NM. Evelyn coordinated with another volunteer to drive the kestrel to Tijeras for the transfer. When they opened the back of the vehicle, Cora flew out! Apparently, she had escaped the box she was in during transport. She could not fly well though, and they recaptured her before she could get hit by another car. Initial examination showed she was thin and slightly unbalanced, but it was not until she had a radiograph that a fracture of the left coracoid was discovered. The coracoid is a short bone that connects the shoulder joint to the sternum and is extremely important to support the wings during flight. Birds who have this injury have the potential to fly short distances, but cannot gain altitude. Several lucky students in our Living with the Landscape program happened to be some of the first to visit with Cora, who has proven to be an excellent addition to our education program.