Miracle Bird, Feb. 9th.2013

Meet Kiko, A 7 in a half month old saker falcon. She belongs to a falconer named Sergei who has owned and loved her for 6 in a half months. He flew her with out problems for that 6 in a half months until one day. She decided to keep going. What ever the reason,she did not come back and was lost. He was devastated. A flight gone wrong. Sergie is a cancer survivor and I feel Kiko is what keeps him going. He did not have good news about his recovery. I am a firm believer that animals and birds wild or domestic are fantastic therapy. And can keep a person going and surviving. When I read the plea for helping to find the missing falcon. I jumped into rescue mode. I sent an e-mail out to many many people. Got photos of her and sent them out. I kept in touch with Elena,Sergei's daughter, who I might say was amazing. Had lots of reports and they checked out every one. Mostly red tail hawks which look very similar from a distance. Saka falcons are from Napal and are not to bad minding the cold. But dont really like the hot temps. However the day after she went missing we hit the deep freeze of - 30 deg. F. We never gave up. 14 days later to the day. She was found. She had flown a long way south of Barrie. Ended up in Whitby at a park. A man walking his dog saw Kiko sitting on the ground. He called his wife to come and get their dog and walked over to the bird. Kiko,hungry and had had enough at that point stepped onto his hand. He then made sure he had her tresses and off they went. He walked home with Kiko on his arm. After calling all around he finally found someone who could help. I was told she went to Toronto Wildlife Center but was unable to positivly confirm that. But she did end up at the Canadian Peregrin Foundation in Woodbridge. One of their volunteers, Frank, had also seen the plea and given all the information on the bird to them in case she was found. It worked. They contacted her frantic owner. And they were reunited. This is a story of 2 survivors. Unawares of her popularity, after a good article in the Barrie Advance of their being reunited,Kiko is very popular around her home area. Not to many people walk down the street with a big beautiful falcon on their arm. More people than they will ever know were looking for Kiko during that 14 days. I kept up my hopes for whatever reason that she was out there. When I got the news from Elena I was thrilled. I got to meet Kiko and Sergei a week after she got home. Oh what a beauty. What a bond those 2 have. The following are photos I took of her and Sergei and a few my husband Mark took of me with Kiko. I think Mark got into a shot or 2 as well. She even gave Sergei a kiss on the forehead. She is a little underweight after her ordeal.Understandably. It is a miracle she survived at all. She seemed very near to her owner and glad to be back with him. A lot of love and more food than normal to get her back again to her healthy weight and she will be good to go. Can we develope bonds with a falcon,I believe we can. I saw it with Kiko and Sergei. A deep bond that they both have for each other. Although they say falcons can not bond but are only attached as they are being cared for. And Kiko is being very well cared for. When he went to pick her up he had to take his paper work with him for proof it was indeed his bird. But when she saw him she leeped all over him. Making it very clear she belonged to him. A happy reunion that heart felt everyone there. I wish them both a long healthy and happy life together. And I thank Sergei for allowing me to meet his precious falcon and Kiko for allowing me to hold her. No problem. Was a moment I will always remember. What a beautiful ,special and very lucky girl. And to the gentleman tht found her and got her to help and back home. Thank you so very much to coming to a bird in destress's aid. She was probably in trouble at that point and reaching out for her life. Good luck to you both.