By Jennifer Parris

It’s not uncommon to see hawks and falcons soaring over New Fairfield. What is uncommon is finding a baby hawk in your backyard—or your swimming pool. But that’s exactly what happened to Hugo Bierschenk—and to me.

As birds of prey, hawks (along with eagles, vultures, falcons, and owls) play a vital role in the ecosystem. They help control rodent populations and reduce the spread of disease by scavenging carcasses.

Still, it’s rare to have such a close encounter. After fishing a shivering, stunned hawk out of our pool and wrapping it in towels, we reached out to Christine Peyreigne of Christine’s Critters, a Wilton-based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Bierschenk had his own rescue adventure. The Sherman resident jumped into action when his neighbor spotted a baby red-tailed hawk that had fallen from its nest. The bird had a broken wing and couldn’t fly, though its parents continued to care for it. When the neighbor’s dog chased it into a thick bramble, it became clear that the hawk wouldn’t survive much longer without intervention.

After earlier attempts by animal control failed, Bierschenk and his neighbor devised a new plan. “We went out at dusk when its vision would be weaker,” he explains. “I put on leather clothing, and we brought makeshift nets—a pool skimmer and a butterfly catcher.” The plan worked. “It was incredibly calm—no flapping, no panic,” Bierschenk recalls. The bird was safely delivered to a wildlife rescue for treatment.

Unfortunately, birds of prey face increasing threats as Connecticut becomes more developed and habitat loss becomes a real threat. But those aren’t the only dangers that the raptors face. “We see many birds that have been hit by cars or have ingested rat poison,” says Peyreigne. Even window strikes are a common cause of injury and death. Fortunately, simple fixes like window clings can help reduce the risk.

If you ever find an injured bird of prey, it’s best to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. While well-meaning, handling these birds can be an unsafe undertaking. “The most dangerous part of these birds are their talons,” Peyreigne warns. “When they close their feet, the tendons lock, and they can do serious damage to your hands.”

Still, if you’re instructed to help, Peyreigne recommends the “spider method”: Wear thick gloves, place a ventilated box over the bird, gently slide a piece of cardboard underneath, and tape the box shut.

Thankfully, both birds in these rescues are on the mend. Our red-shouldered hawk recovered quickly and was released back on our property. Within minutes, he was soaring again—this time with his mate.

As for Bierschenk’s hawk—affectionately named Mordecai by his family—he’s still healing, but his release day is coming soon. “We’re hoping to be there when he’s set free,” says Bierschenk. “The best part is that my three kids think I’m a hero.”