An injured Peregrine falcon named Yukon Jack made its way to Texas from Minnesota, even if there were a few hiccups during the flight.
Yukon Jack suffered a cold shock to his system as he flew over Austin during the minor sequel to last year’s winter storm, causing the hawk to spend the night at Austin Animal Center and Austin Wildlife Rescue, according to KXAN.
“We suspected he was probably cold stung, but we wanted to make sure there wasn’t an underlying issue going on,” Jules Maron, operations manager at AWR said, according to KXAN. “Especially since this is a bird that needs to be strong and able to migrate long distances.”
A 3-1-1 call alerted Austin Animal Protection officers to the downed Yukon Jack. The Peregrine underwent a battery of examinations and was ultimately determined to be healthy enough to continue on the journey to warmer climate, according to KXAN.
“We look for signs of ‘was he breathing hard, or did he have a symmetry with his wings when he was flying?” Austin Wildlife Rescue operations manager Jules Maron said. “And he really passed that with flying colors — no pun intended.”
Because of his presence in the area every winter, Yukon Jack is considered a Central Texas staple. The hawk inspired Bastrop bird photographer Chris DuCharme to follow his annual treks, according to KXAN.
An area resident has kept tabs on the bird for over a decade.
“The Peregrines have some special status, and it’s because they’re the world’s fastest creature,” Bastrop resident and bird photographer Chris DuCharme said, according to KXAN. “Every creature has its own spirit and attitude, but the photographs [of them] just sort of stand out.”
After receiving a cancer diagnosis three years ago, DuCharme took a break from wildlife photography to focus on his health. After catching word that Yukon Jack made a recovery, DuCharme told KXAN it inspired him to get back into the wild, too.
“It’s like tonic for my soul,” DuCharme told KXAN about tracking Yukon Jack’s adventures. “This has just been one really cool story in my book.”
