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From: zaza@rcn.com
Sighting_Date: 07/19 /03
Remote Name: 208.59.199.233
Date: 21 Jul 2003
Time: 11:48:15 -0400
location: mono lake,cemetery road between county park and graveyard. on the 19th, at 10:30 am, the bird was on the road, wings open. crawled away from me. obviously could not fly. i picked him up, gently gathered his wings and brought him in the brush area. i was able to hold him for a while in my left hand, explore his wings, body. he sat there. i could even look at his tummy. the body showed no sign of injury. when i approached my right hand to gently touch his head or back, he opened his beak but no sound came out. i carefully placed him on the ground. i came back the following day on my way back from black point and looked for him. time was 11:15. i found him in the same area, a few yards away, sitting on the ground, hidden under a bush. his bright round black eyes were wide open. he opened his wings and fluttered away from me with an energy that made me feel better. and i left, hoping he would live. description: bird of prey w/ flat head. yellow legs and black claws. baby kind of yellow cream colored tummy. light reddish brown back and head. same tail color w/ white. wings were black and greyish w/ white spots. the whole bird was absolutely immaculate, like he had just fallen from a nest. at the visitor center i was told it could be an osprey, an eagle or a red tail hawk. looking through books there, it looked like a rth but then i read that juveniles are not red... i feel privileged and honored to have been able to come so close to a beautiful wild bird and i hope he is well. zaza