community.kjrh.com

I'm not writing now as the kjrh guy but simply as myself...

For a couple days now, since it became clear that this year's clutch would not hatch, I have struggled with what I wanted to say to all of you.

I have to tell you that after giving it a lot of thought, I still have no idea what to write, so this will be anything but eloquent as it's going to have to be extemporaneous.

I guess first I want to personally thank you all for all the incredible things you have done, posting beautiful poems, making maps, encoding videos, maintaining vigils, sharing your thoughts and feelings...

Next, it's my sincere hope that this forum continue to thrive and grow, because it seems people have really made some connections here.

What strikes me the most is that in retrospect, last year was even more than a miracle than I had thought. Not only did both eggs hatch, but Thunder grew from a little piece of fluff to a majestic and fearsome hunter in her own right, and we watched it all happen.

So the eggs will remain as they are until the hawks or nature intervene, and I will keep an eye on the skies for these beautiful birds whose lives have somehow touched mine in ways I never expected nor sought.

(8-{)

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As the web guy I'll just say: Work will continue on this site and the station has no plans to do anything other than what we have always done: Present nature as it is, unedited and unretouched, and let our users draw their own conclusions from what happens in a nest full of wild creatures.

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(8-{)
Russell Mills
Online Content Director
KJRH-TV Channel 2
PO Box 2 Tulsa, OK 74101
(918) 748-1560

The FIRST and ONLY station in Oklahoma to broadcast local news in HD!

Thank you Russell.

catgirl:

Thank you Russell.

 

Thank you both

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Yesterday is history
Tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift

thank you russell for all that you do. i know this has been trying and rewarding all at once,but no one "I MEAN NO ONE" could have done it any better.will continue to stay with this group and watch it grow bigger everyday with lots of new friends and good people like yourself. much respect greg (poncauhaul)

Thank you and thanks to KJRH for presenting this nest and the story of these special Redtails and their offspring.  When eggs don't hatch, we look for the reasons.  Was it the cold weather?  Lack of food?  The eggs weren't fertile?

Birds don't have easy lives.  At the bird hospital where I work, we call this "starving baby chick season."  So many orphaned babies are brought to our hospital.  Some have fallen from their nests, some were abandoned, some were separated from their parents.  Nests collapse.  Ground-nesting birds flee their nests, leaving their eggs or chicks behind, when predators come too close or farmers dig up the fields, preparing them for crops.  Some parents (and their chicks) have been sickened by pesticides.  Some parents have eaten poisoned rodents.  Trees with nesting birds are trimmed or cut down.

Many people don't understand the odds against an egg becoming an adult bird who raises its own chicks.  By watching this cam, and others like it, we discover just how fragile life is for these wild birds.  In turn, we learn to respect them and to preseve their habitats.  And then we tell our friends and others.  Through education and awareness, we can make sure the skies are always filled with birds.

Thank you again.  

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Please help preserve wildlife and wildlife territories
IBRRC

Russell, what would you think of trying to get the local Audubon Society to retrieve the eggs and examine them? I think it would be interesting to know how far along they were in the development process when they "died." I'm curious whether those initial four hours or so did them in, or did they continue to develop?

Anyway, the feeling of respect and appreciation is mutual.

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"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one" –– A. J. Liebling

KJRH has e-mail news alerts.  Would it be possible to sign up for a a red-tail hawk alert to notify us when Jay and Kay return to their nest next year? 

I just wanted to say Thank You to KJRH for this wounderful site and letting us Hawk Watchers use their weather cam. I will miss seeing "The Look" that Kay is so known for. Thanks to everyone for all of your videos, screen caps, pictures and documentation. You Guys Rock.

Dear Russell:

Blessings on you and yours... as well as on the rest of KJRH, and all of my beloved Hawk Forumers (You all rock!).  And I thank you for everything you've done on behalf of Kay and Jay, and all of us! ...  and for the fact that you've done it with Full Heart, Kindness, Caring, Compassion and Gusto!  And thank you for continuing to "be there"...

Russell, you-and-yours, and all the rest of the wonderful souls that I mentioned above, will remain in my thoughts and prayers, as I go about my daily life.  And I'll look forward to the next chapter in the lives of our wonderous,  enigmatic Kay and Jay.

High fives, hugs and smiles to you and all the rest,

socal

Russell,

I too would like to thank you for all your hard work on Red-Tailed Hawk cam.  I will continue to do my part for nature and buy the 50# sacks of Sunflower seeds, mixed seeds and cracked corn for my group of birds.  I have around 200 feathered friends that visit me almost everyday.  It is not unusual to see 50 at a time on the 8 feeders and/or ground where I also spread seed out for the ground feeders.  I have put up two new Blue Bird houses and over the weekend, one of the houses is busy getting a nest built in it.  Thanks again for everything.

 

Thank you for your truly touching note.  It is amazing how much we are afftected by the wonders of nature when we simply take the time to pay attention.  I'd also like to thank you and all the folks at KJRH that have helped make viewing the hawk's nest possible.  It has been a great community service and a wonderful place for folks to learn and share and develop their love and respect of nature.

Kelley (kjfmamas)

There isn't much more I can add to what has already been expressed in these post, except to say I agree with everything said.  But, I am with Socal..."Russell you rock!".

I wasn't able to follow and stay connected after Thunder fledged last year. But, those of you who did welcomed me back in openly and I appreciate all of you so much. It has done my heart good, in a very down, dark period of my life, to be a part of this group and all that you represent....friendly, honest, helpful, dedicated, concerned and caring individuals.

We are all disappointed in the outcome. Our hopes were high. Not having answers is the hardest, I think. But, no matter what, we are with Kay and Jay  no matter what nature brings them. I wish them safe and healthy for a long time to come and hope to see them again next year.

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The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

I join in the bittersweet sentiments of the rest of you--some who are newly tuned in to this saga, some who have just returned after a while away, and some who stayed and "wintered" on the Forum, so to speak. Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote a poem about a kestrel--The Windhover. I think this line speaks for us all: 
"My heart in hiding/Stirred for a bird...."

There's no doubt that the hearts of many were stirred by Kay, Jay and Thunder. They, as we, will now go on, living and learning as best we can, in one another's company. So with a paraphrasing nod to Forum friend Socal, I'll say with affection, gratitude and determination--and also with a hint of the smile that must remain in our still-stirring hearts, "Friends, it's not ova!"

birdrescue:

Many people don't understand the odds against an egg becoming an adult bird who raises its own chicks.  By watching this cam, and others like it, we discover just how fragile life is for these wild birds.  In turn, we learn to respect them and to preseve their habitats.  And then we tell our friends and others.  Through education and awareness, we can make sure the skies are always filled with birds.
 

Birdrescue, this is such a wonderful and necessary point to make. I wish more people could witness this and understand the need to protect wildlife and especially their environment and habitat. Perhaps Russell or the news station could make this point. Thanks for the beautiful post.

I, too, am a bird feeder! My birds are just beginning to return after the terrible winter we had here. I can't wait! I love watching them interact at the feeders and battle the squirrels for just a taste. But, most of all I just enjoy them.

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The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

Thank you Russell for being there for us and the hawks, even when we got carried away :). And thank you KJRH for letting us see the hawks on your cam. We will be checking in and hoping to hear news of sightings of Kay and Jay and be ready for nesting season again next year, which will hopefully be on the tower once again!It is a rare and beautiful opportunity to view nature in a very intimate way and share it with others who are discovering its beauty and wonder. Love you all!!!