Swainson's Hawk

Ernest was brought to the Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center in August of 1996 by a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer, who had confiscated him from two boys. The boys had found the hawk as a chick and had attempted to raise the bird. Unfortunately, the boys didn’t understand the nutritional needs of a young hawk. As a result of poor diet, Ernest’s

skeleton didn’t form correctly. His wings are the wrong shape and cannot support flight. Because Ernest was raised by humans, he is also a human imprint. Imprinting is learning what kind of animal you are. It is learned in some birds by looking at the animal feeding you. Because of imprinting and his physical handicaps, Ernest cannot survive in the wild. Ernest has become an excellent educator and valued member of our staff.