Growth and Nutrition of Two Hand-Reared Cooper's Hawks (Accipiteri cooperii) from Egg to Release.

In 2010, The Wildlife Center in New Mexico incubated four Cooper's hawk eggs. Two chicks survived and were hand-reared until release at 13 wk of age. Information is provided on incubation, diet, and growth rate of the birds as hatchlings, nestlings, and fledglings. Chicks were fed quail throughout the hand-rearing process, but were supplemented with nutritional products to assist in optimal health and development. Taurine, an amino acid important for normal brain, eye, and spatial skill development in some animals was incorporated into the hatchling diet. Thiamine and vitamin E were also provided in the diet from hatchling stage to release. Differential growth of two birds while consuming the same diet suggested one was male and the other female [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]