Fat hawk down: Bird of prey left sprawled on its back after it ate a coot and was unable to take off

Publish date: 2024-06-07

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 11:48 EST, 13 January 2013 | Updated: 11:50 EST, 13 January 2013

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We all know that feeling - a large lunch leaves us sprawled out on the sofa.

Similarly, this juvenile red-tailed hawk was rendered immobile after scoffing down another bird.

Photographer Steve Shinn managed to snap the stricken bird of prey on its back after a meal of a coot near a nature preserve in Long Beach, California.

Gluttony: This juvenile red-tailed hawk was rendered immobile after scoffing down another bird

Gluttony: This juvenile red-tailed hawk was rendered immobile after scoffing down another bird

'I shot this just after a big holiday meal and think I could feel this bird's pain,' he explained.

'I found this bird in a very unhawklike position looking very distressed. It had attacked a Coot near the stream and chewed away on it for about a half hour before it waddled about 50 feet and fell flat on his keister.

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'It seemed to be breathing well so I called some folks who work for South Bay Wildlife Recovery, a wonderful organisation that mainly works with raptors and other animals.

Must've tasted good: Photographer Steve Shinn said he could feel the bird's pain as he had just eaten a big meal himself when he spotted prone after a meal of a coot near a nature preserve in Long Beach, California

Must've tasted good: Photographer Steve Shinn said he could feel the bird's pain as he had just eaten a big meal himself when he spotted prone after a meal of a coot near a nature preserve in Long Beach, California

Don't just stand there! Mr Shin called a wildlife recovery organisation to assist the stricken hawk. The next day it seemed better despite its self-defeating greed - and was set to be released back into the wild, he said

Don't just stand there! Mr Shin called a wildlife recovery organisation to assist the stricken hawk. The next day it seemed better despite its self-defeating greed - and was set to be released back into the wild, he said

'They had one their members on the way in minutes so I opted to not to disturb the bird by getting it upright as being on its back is not a good position as it can interfere with breathing.

'The stuffed critter was collected and taken in for some rest and recovery.

'A day later it was sitting on a perch and seemed none the worse for the gluttonous rampage. They plan to return it to the same area as soon as recovery is complete.'

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