Freyja
Species: Red-tailed Hawk
Nicknames: Frey, the Freyster
Sex: Presumed female
Hatched: 2013
Arrived: 2015
Condition: Human habituated
Freyja’s Story:
Freyja was delivered to the Toronto Wildlife Centre in late 2013 with some unusual feather damage. It appeared that all of her wing and tail feathers had been burned, and the veterinarians there suspected that she may have been caught in some sort of industrial flare. Her feathers were so damaged that she was completely unable to fly.
Freyja was transferred to the Owl Foundation for long-term rehabilitation. Hawks only moult all of their feathers once per year, so it took just that long for Freya to produce a healthy set of feathers and begin to look like a bird again! Once her feathers were in tip-top shape, she was released into the wild.
Unfortunately Freyja’s story doesn’t end there – although she was free, she quickly returned to the Owl Foundation, following the staff on their rounds as they fed the resident birds! It quickly became clear that Freyja was very comfortable around people, either because of her long stint in rehab or some prior experience with humans. Her habituation to humans makes her non-releasable, and she joined the Wild Ontario team in early 2015.
Red-tailed Hawks are the most commonly seen raptor in Ontario, and they can be spotted in agricultural areas, roadsides, and even cities. These bulky birds are masters of energy conservation, soaring effortlessly overhead or sitting for hours on the same branch. They use a well-timed sneak-attack to surprise their prey on the ground, which can include all manner of mammal, bird, and even reptile.
