Hawks, chicks gone from church'Unnatural circumstances' feared By Bo Petersen (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The red-tailed hawks are gone from the gold cross where they perched. Their chicks have vanished from the nest in the steeple of Grace Episcopal Church below. Wildlife agents suspect the nest was disturbed, and the church is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. 
REBECCA ELLIOTT/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE The nest is now empty where only a few weeks ago one of the two adult hawks was keeping watch over it. The nest was in the steeple of Grace Episcopal Church. The shocking turnabout comes almost three weeks after a story appeared in The Post and Courier about the odd marriage of raptor and rapture that disrupted a $12 million renovation project but thrilled congregation members, construction workers and people in the neighborhood. At least two chicks had been in the nest, but a search has not turned up any sign of them in the area. It's very unlikely the adults would have moved the chicks or their bodies if they died, said Jim Elliott, director of the International Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw. "It appears to be unnatural circumstances," said Rebecca Elliott, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent who has been monitoring the nest in a crook of the steeple pinnacle. She climbed onto the closed-off scaffolding for a look after construction crew members said they were no longer seeing the birds. "Oh no, I hope somebody has not done any harm to them," said Frank Hamilton, of College of Charleston student computing support, who has had a view of the birds from his office. He walked the neighborhood with binoculars Tuesday but didn't see any sign of them. The hawks caught the attention of the Bovis Lend Lease construction crew in late April when workers raising the scaffolding reached a level just below the nest and one of the raptors spread its 4-foot wingspan, dropped and circled the steeple menacingly above their heads. Because the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the taking of the birds, their eggs or their chicks, that high scaffolding was put off limits for eight weeks and the work schedule had to be refigured. That scaffolding section was barred with padlocked doors, and debris netting was strung on the lower levels to discourage people from climbing, said Seth Armstrong, the Bovis project manager. But the scaffolding could have been climbed. "It would have been a real pain, but if somebody were determined enough, they could have done it," he said. "I don't have a clue what happened. But I hope the birds are all right." The delay had been expected to cost the church at least $60,000, but the Rev. Canon Michael Wright, the church rector, said the rescheduling reduced the cost to much less. Wildlife agent Elliott told the company that the nest can be removed and work resumed, Wright said in a statement. "We are saddened to think these wondrous and fragile creatures may have been disturbed or even worse," he said. "Grace parishioners have grown accustomed to looking up as they arrive for services. More than one of the faithful have asked me upon entering, how are our birds doing?" Reach Bo Petersen at bpetersen @postandcourier.com or 745-5852. |
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Comments
This article has 26 comment(s)
Posted by auger on May 21, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the birds were harmed, it will be found out. Too many people were watching these creatures for them to be removed unnoticed. There must have been a couple of webcams and/or security cams looking in that area. Come on folks, take a look at your video archive.
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 3:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Take that $1000 dollars and put it towards the completion of the church and do it quickly before something else takes residence there.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 21, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Are illegal mexicans working on that church?
Posted by moonpie on May 21, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Man "Thomas" I thought the same thing. You know they had to be because fat lazy Americans won't do that type work! You know the illegals have an effection for the fowl. Remember the goose of North Charleston?!
Or it could have been Mayor Joe? No fowl will stop his "progress".
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They tasted great, almost not fat at all :)
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I had two bluebirds build a nest in a bird house in my backyard. After building the nest, they disappeared. Why is there no story about MY missing birds?
Odd things happen in nature. I seriously doubt that any human being climbed that steeple, without being noticed, and did anything to those chicks.
I love all animals and I think birds of prey are awesome creatures to watch, but I surely hope that a lot of money, time and effort is not expended in this case as it's most likely just mother nature doing her thing.
Posted by Larz13 on May 21, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
my $$ is on some drunk CoC frat boys.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
barefootchicken, my next door neighors had the same thing happen. Two pairs of bluebirds built nest in two different bird houses in their yard, one pair remained, one left.
Posted by LowcountryMoose on May 21, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe Paco Parker, aka Evil Mexican Spiderman, had a hankering for a hot hawkadilla and an endangered omelet.
Posted by sandnshooz on May 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a question for coldbeer, barefootchicken, chiefsittingbull. Your comments reflect your intelligence, so who read the article to you?
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 21, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sandnshooz,
The same person who read it to you, genius. You don't like something you see, debate it like a man or woman and/or move on...
Likewise your comment reflects your intelligence and ability to have dialogue with adults.
Have a great day! XOXO
Posted by Early on May 21, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the ambulance driver molested them, after all they were young chicks.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sandnshooz, problems recognizing humor much? Are you one of those people that spend all of their time trying to get cartoons taken off of the air so that your child won't be exposed to coyotes being hit by trucks? You've obviously got issues that go well beyond a little sarcastic humor posted here. Such a sad, bitter person.
Take a chill pill. As I stated, this is most likely just nature doing her thing and I see no problem making fun of people that get all upset at things like this. I also mentioned that I love animals.
Obviously, if someone did hurt the birds, they should be brought to justice.
Posted by Early on May 21, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
barefootchicken, it's good to be in trouble, that's the only reason I post on the boards!
Posted by TP on May 21, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL @ Early.
I agree with the expert from Fish and Wildlife. This appears to be an unnatural circumstance; it doesn't really add up.
Hawks are birds of prey that eat meat. Blue birds are thrushes that eat bugs. Blue bird nests are frequently abandoned due to the presence of predators or because the nesting area or conditions aren't right. You don't generally see this with hawks, especially once the eggs have hatched.
This almost certainly wasn't "mother nature doing her thing." Somebody tampered with the nest.
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
barefootchicken, I'm sure that I'm being sent to time out because of my post saying they tasted good :)
Every time we roast Cornish game hens, my daughter gets mad at me because I pick up the raw hens and make them do a "Where's my head?" dance on the counter top :)
I guess bird humor is taboo or, as sandnshooz so kindly pointed out, only enjoyed by the unintelligent amongst us.
Personally, I think this whole story is for the birds and I resent that I’m being hen-pecked over my comments. :)
Posted by TP on May 21, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I is not my intention to ruffle any feathers or speak in a fowl way towards anyone.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 21, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you guys have turned my so-so day into one filled with laughter! gracias!
Posted by FindingMyself on May 21, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, sometimes birds build their nests and leave them, but would they move the chicks after they've already hatched? That suggests foul play(no pun intended).
Posted by ashleyatwork on May 21, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nature does cruel and strange things. Something got my two baby turkeys this weekend. I had them protected as much as possible less bringing them in the house. It could have been a snake, another bird of prey, rac oon, possum (im told they can climb. We will never know... thats how the food change works.
Posted by Tammie on May 21, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for the comic relief..lmao
Posted by Two_Sheds on May 21, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Red-Tailed Hawk: it's what's for dinner!
But, seriously....is it possible that the youngsters have already fledged and left the nest? Or perhaps someone took them to a wildlife refuge?
Posted by TP on May 21, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks for the head's up on the 'food change' ashley, lol.
If it was likely the birds had fledged, i would think the Fish and Wildlife officer would have raised that possibility. Did you read the story?
Posted by ColdBeer on May 21, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe it's possible that another bird of prey nabbed the little chick-a-dees? Rats have been known to raid bird nest too.
Posted by JohnS on May 21, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would be looking at the General contractor. They would have access to the building and motive to move the birds. More than likely they got a Latino to do it.
Posted by TP on May 22, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey guys, i'm starting up a group to get out the message on this sad story, so go ahead and email me if you want to join up.
I'm calling the group: Fatal Attacks, Widespread Killings and Outright Fledgling Fatalities. Or, FAWK-OFF for short.