Audubon Society of Rhode Island Welcomes A New Avian Ambassador

Young Red-tailed Hawk Can be Observed in Special Exhibit
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI

Smithfield – February 8, 2016 – Don’t be fooled by those fluffy white feathers. His golden eyes, white breast feathers and chocolate-brown streaked pattern on his back and wings do leave a stunning impression. But underneath those good looks he is a formidable predator with razor-sharp talons, extraordinary strength, a hooked beak that rips and tears, and highly developed eyesight and hearing. An impressive bird of prey, this raptor is the newest avian ambassador cared for by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Visitors to the Environmental Education Center will have the opportunity to meet, observe and enter a contest to name this Red-tailed Hawk.
Less than a year old, it is believed that this hawk was injured by a fall as a fledgling, when he was approximately 12 weeks old, causing serious injury to his left wing. Because of this break and how it healed, he has limited ability for flight and non-releasable into the wild.
Last August he was spotted hopping around the median of Route 8 in Shelton Connecticut, obviously unable to take flight. He had been living and scavenging on the ground for over three weeks when rescued. Christine Peyreigne, a wildlife rehabilitator in Weston, Connecticut, cared for the hawk for over 5 months, hoping to see him recover completely. After a veterinarian determined that the bird was permanently injured, they reached out to Audubon. His new home will be a new and specially constructed hawk observation exhibit at the Audubon Environmental Education Center, funded by the Rhode Island Foundation and Audubon members. Visitors will be able to observe him from both inside as well as outside of the building and Audubon educators will be on hand to answer any questions.

Name the New Avian Ambassador!
If you love birds and are clever with words…join Audubon’s celebration and enter a contest to name the new Red-tailed Hawk! Audubon encourages the community to choose a name and enter the contest during their visit to the Environmental Education Center or online at www.asri.org. Additional contest details will be available on the Audubon website starting February 15, 2016.

Audubon Environmental Education Center Hours:
- Open 9:00am – 5:00 pm during February School Vacation Week.
- Winter Hours: Mon-Tue: Closed. Wed-Sat: Open 9:00am-5:00pm. Sun: Open 12:00pm-5:00pm Except for Holidays and Special Events

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island cares for seven un-releasable birds of prey: a Great Horned Owl, two Barred Owls, an American Kestrel, an Eastern Screech Owl, and now two Red-tailed Hawks. All are educational ambassadors, used in environmental education programs. The new Red-tailed Hawk is the only Audubon bird that will be housed in an exhibit space that is open to public observation.

Please note: Although the Audubon Society of Rhode Island does care for several birds that have been injured and unable to be returned to the wild, the organization is NOT a licensed animal rescue and rehabilitation facility. We cannot accept animals that are abandoned, injured or needing care. If you find an injured animal, please call the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic of Rhode Island at (401) 294-6364.

Audubon Society of Rhode Island is an independent not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting birds, wildlife, and their habitats through environmental education, advocacy, and land conservation. The state’s first environmental organization, the Society now protects nearly 10,000 acres in a network of refuges, pristine properties and wildlife habitats. One of the largest private environmental educators in the state, in 2014 Audubon staff taught approximately 20,000 students across the region. Audubon Society of Rhode Island is not affiliated with National Audubon.