Here's to Charlie

In a piece of good news, Charlie, a red-tailed hawk who has been in the care of veterinarians at Washington State University since being injured in a collision with a car when he was three months old, has set the lifespan record for his species.

Although Charlie's story essentially begins with the car accident, it provides some great examples of positive human-nature interaction, including the veterinarians saving Charlie's life, his interaction with his longtime friend, falconer Erik Stauber, and his contributions to teaching people about the world of raptors.

The bonds Charlie has made with people have the potential to help transform the way we interact with nature. It's great to hear that he continues to have good health. Hopefully, he'll keep adding to his record and the number of human lives he touches.

Congratulations, Charlie.