Krider’s Hawk Joins MRCC’s Team of Education Birds

Friday May. 8th, 2015

The Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC) is proud to announce the addition of a female Krider’s Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis kriderii) to its team of education birds. With the proper federal permitting, birds of prey that are healthy, but un-releasable, can help MRCC staff advance the public’s awareness of raptors and their importance in the environment.

The newest MRCC education bird is Sydnee, a female Krider’s red-tailed hawk, found near Sidney, Montana in October 2014.  “She had a previous injury to her left humerus, which had healed but impaired her ability to fly. Because she was so young and her injuries were not treatable, MRCC was granted a permit by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep her.” explains Becky Kean, Director of MRCC.


“Hawks are quick and nimble on the ground, so even with only minimal flight ability, it’s not surprising that Sydnee survived for several weeks before the game wardens found her,” adds Jordan Spyke, Assistant Director at MRCC.
The Krider’s is a subspecies of Red-tail hawk distinguished by its light plumage, particularly on the head and back, and a tail that varies from pink to white. Like other buteos, hawks, Krider’s have broad, rounded wings and broad tails.

Red-tailed hawks are commonly seen soaring high above grasslands and agricultural areas searching for prey.  They will also hunt for prey—rodents, ground squirrels, rabbits, and reptiles—by perching on a treetop, telephone pole, or other lookout. As the most common hawks in North America, Red-tails have many plumage variations across the country. Krider’s typically breed in the southern parts of Canada, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota, and winter in South Dakota and southern Minnesota, sometimes going as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana.

The name Sydnee was chosen by the many MRCC volunteers who care for the bird. In addition to reflecting the area where she was found, Sydnee means a wide island in a river and also something has a deep inner desire to travel and is adventurous.  

Sydnee’s new adventures will involve meeting schoolchildren and members of the community as part of educational events. “She’s got a very calm demeanor and is easy to work with,” says Spyke.  “We are hoping to have her ready to participate in the Watershed Festival next month.”

As part of its mission of outreach and education, MRCC provides a lifetime home and long-term care for its 11 education birds.  Hawks can live close to 25 years in captivity.

 
About Montana Raptor Conservation Center
Founded in 1988, the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to improve the welfare of raptors across Montana through rehabilitation of injured birds, community education, and partnerships for raptor conservation and research.