Attacked and Brutalized

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted September 8, 2009697 views9 comments

I found this Northern Flicker hoping around by a favorite spot of mine. I know there are a lot of coyote's around there and I think that maybe one of the coyote pups might have had a hold of this flicker and it managed somehow to escape. I thought about taking him in and trying to nurse him back, but noticed he was missing at least one of his wings (and I think both). Even though I felt very sorry for him, I also thought about how nature works and decided to leave him to the fate what nature has planned for him. Maybe he was going to be food for a very hungry or starving coyote pup? You just never know....and since it seemed pretty obvious that man was not to blame for his injuries, I thought it best that man did not interfere. Not sure if all agree, but it is why I decided to leave him be.

Canon 50D
Canon 300mm f/4 w/1.4 tc
Exp 1/40 at f/8
ISO 400
Handheld with elbow braced on knee

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on September 8, 2009 at 2:56 PM

Kurt,
Based on your description of his state, the bird had a very little chance of survival. As both an avian rehabber and practicing Buddhist ("all life is precious"), I think I would have made the same decision you did. At least the sacrifice of his life will go towards sustaining another, whereas if you took him away from here, it would not have.
As to what got him -- would this not have been a house cat? They often just play with their catches.
Rebecka

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 8, 2009 at 3:44 PM

I agree with your decision - I only like to intervene if something has been hit by a car or some other man made thing. While it can be sad to see an animal injured or become food, everybody has to eat.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 8, 2009 at 6:49 PM

Rebecka, I thought the same thing for a moment (about it maybe being a house cat), but this is pretty far from any housing or even farms. Could have been a feral cat possibly....but then I am not sure a cat could have pulled off the wings so easily since a Northen Flicker is a decent size bird. Also, the morning before I saw several coyote pups playing in this very area.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 11, 2009 at 11:16 PM

Sad image for sure and very well-done.
Kurt, Seeing the hard parts of nature is often tough. I think you did the right thing , as hard as it was. He had very little chance of survival and at least his death helped another animal survive.

I'm also afraid it was a housecat, but who knows. I'm very vocal in helping people realize the destruction house cats and feral cats wreak on birds.

I love my kitties, but they do not go out - they watch the birds at my feeder and birdbath happily and safely. The survival of indoor cats is far longer and healthier than those allowed to roam outside.

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 14, 2009 at 3:57 AM

I think you made the right choice, hard as it may be. I'm surprised the fella still managed to hop around!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on September 14, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Very powerful image Kurt. I feel you made the right decision.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 15, 2009 at 12:18 AM

Very well-deserved EP!
Cograts!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on November 10, 2009 at 6:42 AM

I am a licensed wildlife carer (in NSW, Australia that is) and while I think it's cruel to leave it from the emotional, human, perspective, there is pretty much no chance this fellow would have recovered even with vet help. Birds often drop dead with no notice from far lesser injuries as far as my experience is concerned at least. You did the right thing in my opinion. Though it's sad. No more nor less than seeing a young wildebeest get devoured by a pride of lions.
Very powerful stuff. Not sure whether to put a smiley or sad face here.

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 7, 2011 at 9:53 AM

I was able to shoot this one recently for the first time, it's one of the best looking woodpeckers I've ever seen. Hard to see one this way, but you did the right thing by letting nature run its course. The easy thing to do would've been to intervene of course.
Thanks for posting this one Kurt

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments