When it comes to breaking sad news, I am the worst at finding the perfect words to say, but since this is a crucial update, I will do it anyway.
I got a call from Ross at William Osler Hospital’s Environmental Services on Friday, February 28 of last week. He told me that he had discovered a dead bird on the rooftop of the medical center, and that the bird was wearing a solid black recovery band with the marking R over 55. This was a Wisconsin Badgers , who I immediately recognized and verified to be the same bird that hatched at the William Osler nest site the previous year. After driving down, Ross and I walked up to the rooftop to have a look. As soon as we stepped out the door, I noticed the bird down in the center of the rooftop’s east side, and it was unquestionably the young, blue Badgers’ boy.
I looked him over carefully after removing him from the rooftop, and I could tell he had been there for a while. I’m not sure how long it was, but he passed away quite some time ago. His return to the nest ledge within hours of his first flight stunned me much because he was the family’s star flyer this previous season, having been the first to fledge. He was seen hunting with his father Hurricane throughout the hospital grounds like an expert, never once needing rescuing or falling to the ground. The most recent instance of his attendance that I am aware of was on July 23, when I managed to obtain a picture of Wisconsin Badgers along with his two sisters as they sat on the western ledge. I believe that I also have pictures from later in August so what happened to him and when it occurred is truly unknown. Thank you very much to the folks at William Osler for keeping an eye on the family and supporting them so well. While this is a sad loss to report at this time, we look forward to the coming season with great anticipation.
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