Harris hawked rescued from Essex caravan park tree

by Damien Sharkov
Caravanning has long provided a respite for holiday makers preferring to get closer to nature than bury themselves in the tourist traps of some urban metropolis.
For caravanners at Dovercourt Caravan Park, in Essex, however, nature may have overstepped its boundaries as a Harris hawk entangled itself in one of the campsite’s trees, 34 feet from the ground.
The rare bird was discovered by one of the park’s guards, who immediately called Katrina Myers, from Colchester Owl Rescue in Rowhedge. Katrina arrived promptly but was too short to reach the trapped hawk.
Her husband, Dave, came to the rescue, despite his fear of heights. He reached for the bird as the ominous sound of Katrina’s Mission Impossible theme tune ring tone began to sound. The bird became restless.
“It knew it was going to be handled,” said Mrs Myers, “and it freaked out. As soon as my husband got it wrapped up, she went ballistic.”
After several attempts Dave managed to get a hold of the bird. It is reported to have suffered scrapes but no broken bones and Katrina is now hoping to return the hawk to its rightful owner.
It is unclear as of yet whether the female hawk has been used as for pest control or as a breeding bird.