LIMA — Three weeks ago, on a Saturday afternoon, the police department called Lima City Park’s Chief Ranger Randy Kohli. A hawk was found in Lima’s downtown square. Birds from time to time fly into the glass on the outside of the Lima Municipal Center at the corner of Main and Market streets.
Kohli tells the story, “We were fortunate that Andre Crowder, one of our residents around this area, contacted the police department. I got a hold of Craig (Barr, Allen County wildlife officer through the Division of Wildlife Ohio Department of Natural Resources). It’s good that we have this working relationship between the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division and the parks department.”
Barr continues the story, “I deal with quite a few of these and it (a Cooper’s hawk) seemed real strong. I couldn’t find any obvious injuries. I got it to Nature’s Nursery in Whitehouse. They checked it out there and did a little rehab with it and deemed it ready for release. The diagnosis they gave me was he was just a little disheveled and a little disoriented. And here we are today and we let it go and it flew off. Looks real good to me.”
The hawk flew down Market Street and landed in a tree, sitting there for a while before taking off again. Cooper’s hawks are common in the area. They range from 14 to 20 inches tall. When hunting birds or small animals, they can fly approaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409