NORTHAMPTON Northampton Fire Rescue, renowned bird of prey expert Tom Ricardi and concerned neighbors of St. John Cantius Church worked together to save a male redtail hawk that was trapped in the downtown church’s bell tower for about three days.At.
DEERFIELD Last Wednesday was just another day at the “office” for retired environmental police officer Tom Ricardi, as he pulled his finger out of the chomping beak of a barred owl he was trying to release near the Deerfield River.Ricardi, who.
Editorial: Monday Shorts: Raptors redeemed
Tom Ricardi releases a barred owl in Deerfield last Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ
Published: 3/7/2021 3:27:08 PM
Here are some brief thoughts on recent happenings in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
For readers of this paper, it was a familiar story immortalized by Photo Editor Paul Franz’s pictures of rehabilitated raptors taking tentative steps out of their cages, testing their wings, circling the clearing, perhaps alighting in a tree and soon lost to sight of Tom Ricardi, 81, who had nursed them back to health. For 20 years, Ricardi and Dr. Robert Schmitt of the South Deerfield Veterinary Clinic have answered a calling to give injured eagles, owls, hawks and vultures a second chance at life.
DEERFIELD Wednesday was just another day at the “office” for retired environmental police officer Tom Ricardi, as he pulled his finger out of the chomping beak of a barred owl he was trying to release near the Deerfield River.Ricardi, who turned in.