Thursday, February 1, 2018

Dora is on the mend, but she may not be back in Tompkins Square Park anytime soon



Back late November, Dora, the female red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park, injured her wing. (It's not known how she did this.)

During these past two months, she has been in the care of Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINORR).

The Park's hawk watchers were hopeful that Dora would be able to return soon. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case via this Facebook update from WINORR:

The injured female hawk from Tompkins Square Park is not where we hoped she'd be by now. Although the x-rays were negative, she had a serious bone infection requiring medicating and rest. Her still-drooping wing may be permanent from either tendon, ligament and/or nerve damage.

Those concerned about her possible return to her mate Christo for the upcoming breeding season — that is not possible at the stage she's at. We are not giving up on her ... it may take months of exercise to regain her full flight. So for now she must stay put and hopefully make great improvement. The red mark on her wrist we applied for ID purposes — it is not blood or an injury.



As Googla recently observed, Christo "has been acting sullen and surly since she's been away." And there has been the whole confusing Not-Dora/Nora situation.

Head over to Goggla's site for some of her favorite photos of Dora these past few years.

Images via the WINORR Facebook page.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful bird. Thank you to all those caring for her, and I hope she makes a full recovery.

Laura Goggin Photography said...

Thanks for posting this update on Dora, Grieve. She's a beautiful force of nature and I really miss seeing her preside over her realm from the dome of Most Holy Redeemer church. My heart aches every time I look up there.

Eden Bee said...

Awww I love Dora. This is sad.

Gojira said...

Oh my God, first no Trader Joe's and now no Dora? I had just been wondering about her when I walked through the park the other day, hoping she'd return soon.

This day just gets worse and worse. Any sighting of Opie since the major snowstorm?

Anonymous said...

Hellooooooo Gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

I hate seeing an injured animal. So sad, but good she's getting care. We need her, and probably a few other hawks to help us out with the rat problems.

Anonymous said...

Grateful to such good caretakers. Thank you for helping our beloved queen of the East Village sky.

Anonymous said...

I feel bad for surly Christo! I would be the same, if my mate disappeared.