Library to Host Children’s Author for Reading of “Hawk Mother”

Tompkins County Public Library will host California author and zoologist Kara Hagedorn for a reading and signing of her children’s book, “Hawk Mother: The Story of a Red-Tailed Hawk Who Hatched Chickens,” Monday, August 14 at 6 p.m. in the Thaler/Howell Programming Room.

“Hawk Mother” chronicles the true story of “Sunshine,” a red-tailed hawk rescued, rehabilitated and raised by Hagedorn, and her unlikely hatchlings. Unable to fly free, Sunshine’s instinct to be a mother was so strong that she built a nest in her aviary each spring where she would lay two infertile eggs, that is until Hagedorn decided to try a radical experiment and gave Sunshine two chicken eggs.  What follows is a delightful story of inter-species cooperation and motherly love.                                               

Hagedorn lived in Ithaca for 12 years where she worked as a naturalist for New York State Parks. In 1997, she rescued Sunshine, who had been shot and could not be released back into the wild. Together, they provided educational programming in schools and parks throughout the Finger Lakes. Hagedorn, her husband and Sunshine now live in California where they continue to educate children and adults about the importance of birds of prey.

This program is free and open to the public. Copies of “Hawk Mother” will be available for purchase at the event.  For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at cwheeler@tcpl.org or (607) 275-1548.