June 18, 2015

Three young red-tailed hawks were recently found on downtown streets, near the Portland Building. The fledglings left their urban nest on the Wells Fargo Tower too early, and were too young to fly or hunt by themselves. 

The Audubon Society of Portland’s Wildlife Care Center took in the young hawks for a short while, and nursed them back to health.

The Audubon Society is a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting education and protection of native birds and other wildlife in our community.

After a week in rehabilitation, they were released on the Portland Building’s ecoroofs, as a safe place to learn to fly. Their parents joined the birds on the ecoroofs and have resumed their parental duties. That includes bringing dead rats, squirrels, and pigeons to the hungry young hawks. 

The Bureau of Environmental Services created the ecoroofs on the Portland Building. Ecoroofs manage stormwater, filter pollutants, help keep buildings cool, reduce electricity costs, and are simply beautiful. They also serve as a great location for urban raptors to learn to fly!

Check out the Bureau of Environmental Services’ website to learn more. 

Photo courtesy of The Audubon Society of Portland.