Based on your description of where the bird was seen, and studying your photo and my own, I do believe it to be the same bird as the one rescued last Thursday. The bird looked beautiful and there was nothing in his appearance to hint at the trouble he was in. Shortly after seeing the bird, and taking a few photos, it moved very awkwardly/unbalanced in the tree several times. It looked as though it may fall from the tree. In short order it glided from the tree to the ground and ran into the bush.
With 10 years of observing Redtailed Hawks at nests daily for months, 10 years of experience with Peregrine Falcon chicks and several years of watching Screech Owl nests, I was able to recognize almost immediately that something was wrong. When approached the bird made no attempt at escape. I suspect few would have recognized anything out of the ordinary really. Toronto Wildlife Centre was called, a friend who volunteers there came almost immdediately as she was on her way there regarding a swan tangled in fishing line. Together she,2 passersby and myself rescued the juvenile Redtailed Hawk. All during its rescue it made no attempt at all to evade or escape, also a sign of a bird in trouble. Once in the rescue box, I got a sick feeling as immediately I could feel almost no weight in the box. A dead mouse near where the Redtail was recovered told me he may have been too far along in whatever was ailing him to even be able to eat(though its not strange for a Redtail to stash food). He laid down in the box, also a sign of a sick bird. He was almost gone. We took him right away to the Toronto Wildlife Centre where he got attention as soon as we arrived. He was emaciated(starving to death). He was put on IV and his condition was guarded. He did make it through the first night, which offered some hope, but in the end he was not able to digest any food. He did not make it through day 2.
Just as a note to everyone out watching and photographing, most especially in the winter, when finding prey can be even more difficult for predators of all types, if U notice the bird/animal hunting or eating, try to back off and let it go about its business. Many of us want great nature/action shots, me included, but we must all try to be respectful of our distances and following hunters around. Everyone may want to put Toronto Wildlife Centre's phone number in their wallet or purse 416-631-0662 They do a great job. The Canadian Peregrine Foundation can also be contacted regarding birds of prey. 416-481-1233
