Pleasure, I am going to add the first of many pics now - under the heading "Leaving the city behind" - first group is Aloe striata in the field.

I don't know much about hawks, but I know they are opportunistic and don't always rely on live catches for their meals...I always see them swooping in on road kill. Perhaps you might try putting a small bit of ground beef out.....but maybe not on the deck itself, possibly somewhere further out in the yard....that way (hopefully) the hawk doesn't associate you with his "find". I know a lot of people won't agree, and that nature should be survival of the fittest...but maybe this hawk just needs a little bit of help to get through. I know I would have a hard time sitting back and watching it suffer.

here's what i found on sialas... Louisiana, Central (no listings) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louisiana, Northern -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louisiana, Northeast Louisiana, Northeast region, Ouachita Parish (Monroe)..... 318-322-8144 Carmon Hill, licensed home wildlife rehabilitator carmon.hill@worldnet.att.net Wildlife Species: mammals -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louisiana, Southern Louisiana, Southern region (Clinton, E/W Feliciana Parishes)..... 225-683-8004 Scott and Anna Heinrich, Anna's Exotic Animal Ranch annasdeer@bellsouth.net Wildlife Species: white-tail deer, small mammals Comments: we have a release site that is controlled acreage so the progress of released animals can be monitored Louisiana, Southern region, Gloster Parish (Gloster)..... 318-933-1166 Kathy Wilson (owner), Loving Care wcrazykat0225@yahoo.com Wildlife Species: rabbits, raccoons, opossum, squirrels, coyotes, deer Specialties/Knowledge: work for a veterinarian Comments: on 250 acres for safe release with lake and woods; Have federal license. Louisiana, Southern region (Gonzales)..... 225-675-8004 Susan Lipoma, licensed home wildlife rehabilitator Wildlife Species: hawks, owls, raccoons, white tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc. Louisiana, Southern region, Livingston County (Livinston)..... 225-698-3168 Leslie Lattimore (director), Wings of Hope Leslielatt@aol.com Wildlife Species: all Louisiana, Southern region, St. Landry Parish (Washington)..... 337-826-8109 or 337-945-1461(cell) Noel Ann Thistlethwaite (director), Acadiana Raptor Center at Malacoff, Inc. leonthistle@centurytel.net Wildlife Species: hawks, owls, and eagles Specialty: hacking back raptors and caging in Southern states Comments:ARC is the only center in the state permitted to rehabilitate eagles (have adequate flight enclosure); utilize video cameras for hack back system Louisiana, Southern region (Lafayette)..... 337-288-5146 Letitia Butcher, Acadiana Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation, Inc. tishabutcher@bellsouth.net Wildlife Species: migratory song birds, birds of prey, native mammals including bats, wildlife education -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louisiana, South Central Louisiana, South Central region, St Martin Parish (Breaux Bridge)..... 337-326-4122 or 337-781-3513 (c) Valerie Jagneaux, licensed home wildlife rehabilitor critter-queen@cox.net or kenspia@cox.net Wildlife Species: Accept any mammals and reptiles Specialties/Knowledge: Opossums, skunks and armadillos Comments: If I can't help I can help you find the proper rehabber to contact. I do not rehab birds but will transport them to licensed rehabbers or to LSU Veterinary College for treatment and care. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louisiana, Southeast Louisiana, Southeast region (Kenner)..... 504-455-2167 or 504-832-2318 or 504-338-5287 (cell) Louise Walzer, licensed home wildlife rehabilitator wez904@hotmail.com Wildlife Species: squirrles only -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana, Southwest region, Calcasieu Parish (Lake Charles)..... 337-477-6129 Suzy Heck (director), Heckhaven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center heckhaven@aol.com Wildlife Species: all mammals, raptors, large waterfowl (mainly pelicans), and will take unwanted exotics Limitations: We do not accept songbirds

Last fall I was at Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts shooting some scenic photos of the park and I kept hearing a whistling sound off in the distance. Finally out of curiosity I went to see what it was. To my complete surprise I found it was a guy in his backyard, which adjoins the park, and he was training a Red Tailed hawk in the art of "Falconry" (Hunting by means of a raptor). I quickly hung a long telephoto lens and began shooting pictures. In a few minutes the guy noticed me and invited me to come in a bit closer. I moved in to about 20ft where he and I could talk yet my presence would still not excite the hawk. In our discusssion he told me that he is one of only 7 ppl in the entire state who are currently licensed to practice the art of Falconry. According to him it takes 6 years in an apprenticeship to get a license and they must have the license before they can posses a bird. During that 6yr period they must work with a raptor rehab facility to learn how to care & feed the birds as well as handling characteristics. He also stated that they cannot buy a bird. To get a bird they have to live trap one in the wild, but they are limited to only trapping birds that are presenting some form of nuisance. In his case, his bird had taken up residence in a residential neighborhood and had been hunting bird near ppls bird feeders or small cats, most of which were to large for the bird to carry off so it just killed a cat, then consumed what it could on the spot and leaving the remains to the total dismay of the cat owners. . . . . . Here is a photo of me doing my imation of a handler.....LOL