The Raptor Rescue Read online

  THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® MYSTERIES

  THE BOXCAR CHILDREN

  SURPRISE ISLAND

  THE YELLOW HOUSE MYSTERY

  MYSTERY RANCH

  MIKE’S MYSTERY

  BLUE BAY MYSTERY

  THE WOODSHED MYSTERY

  THE LIGHTHOUSE MYSTERY

  MOUNTAIN TOP MYSTERY

  SCHOOLHOUSE MYSTERY

  CABOOSE MYSTERY

  HOUSEBOAT MYSTERY

  SNOWBOUND MYSTERY

  TREE HOUSE MYSTERY

  BICYCLE MYSTERY

  MYSTERY IN THE SAND

  MYSTERY BEHIND THE WALL

  BUS STATION MYSTERY

  BENNY UNCOVERS A MYSTERY

  THE HAUNTED CABIN MYSTERY

  THE DESERTED LIBRARY MYSTERY

  THE ANIMAL SHELTER MYSTERY

  THE OLD MOTEL MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN PAINTING

  THE AMUSEMENT PARK MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MIXED-UP ZOO

  THE CAMP-OUT MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY GIRL

  THE MYSTERY CRUISE

  THE DISAPPEARING FRIEND MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SINGING GHOST

  THE MYSTERY IN THE SNOW

  THE PIZZA MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY HORSE

  THE MYSTERY AT THE DOG SHOW

  THE CASTLE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST VILLAGE

  THE MYSTERY ON THE ICE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE POOL

  THE GHOST SHIP MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY IN WASHINGTON, DC

  THE CANOE TRIP MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN BEACH

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING CAT

  THE MYSTERY AT SNOWFLAKE INN

  THE MYSTERY ON STAGE

  THE DINOSAUR MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN MUSIC

  THE MYSTERY AT THE BALL PARK

  THE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE HOT AIR BALLOON

  THE MYSTERY BOOKSTORE

  THE PILGRIM VILLAGE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN BOXCAR

  THE MYSTERY IN THE CAVE

  THE MYSTERY ON THE TRAIN

  THE MYSTERY AT THE FAIR

  THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST MINE

  THE GUIDE DOG MYSTERY

  THE HURRICANE MYSTERY

  THE PET SHOP MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET MESSAGE

  THE FIREHOUSE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY IN SAN FRANCISCO

  THE NIAGARA FALLS MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY AT THE ALAMO

  THE OUTER SPACE MYSTERY

  THE SOCCER MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY IN THE OLD ATTIC

  THE GROWLING BEAR MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE LAKE MONSTER

  THE MYSTERY AT PEACOCK HALL

  THE WINDY CITY MYSTERY

  THE BLACK PEARL MYSTERY

  THE CEREAL BOX MYSTERY

  THE PANTHER MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE QUEEN’S JEWELS

  THE STOLEN SWORD MYSTERY

  THE BASKETBALL MYSTERY

  THE MOVIE STAR MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S MAP

  THE GHOST TOWN MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE BLACK RAVEN

  THE MYSTERY IN THE MALL

  THE MYSTERY IN NEW YORK

  THE GYMNASTICS MYSTERY

  THE POISON FROG MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY SAFE

  THE HOME RUN MYSTERY

  THE GREAT BICYCLE RACE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD PONIES

  THE MYSTERY IN THE COMPUTER GAME

  THE HONEYBEE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY AT THE CROOKED HOUSE

  THE HOCKEY MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT DOG

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SCREECH OWL

  THE SUMMER CAMP MYSTERY

  THE COPYCAT MYSTERY

  THE HAUNTED CLOCK TOWER MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGER’S EYE

  THE DISAPPEARING STAIRCASE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY ON BLIZZARD MOUNTAIN

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SPIDER’S CLUE

  THE CANDY FACTORY MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MUMMY’S CURSE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STAR RUBY

  THE STUFFED BEAR MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF ALLIGATOR SWAMP

  THE MYSTERY AT SKELETON POINT

  THE TATTLETALE MYSTERY

  THE COMIC BOOK MYSTERY

  THE GREAT SHARK MYSTERY

  THE ICE CREAM MYSTERY

  THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY IN THE FORTUNE COOKIE

  THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER MYSTERY

  THE RADIO MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE RUNAWAY GHOST

  THE FINDERS KEEPERS MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED BOXCAR

  THE CLUE IN THE CORN MAZE

  THE GHOST OF THE CHATTERING BONES

  THE SWORD OF THE SILVER KNIGHT

  THE GAME STORE MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN

  THE VANISHING PASSENGER

  THE GIANT YO-YO MYSTERY

  THE CREATURE IN OGOPOGO LAKE

  THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MYSTERY

  THE SECRET OF THE MASK

  THE SEATTLE PUZZLE

  THE GHOST IN THE FIRST ROW

  THE BOX THAT WATCH FOUND

  A HORSE NAMED DRAGON

  THE GREAT DETECTIVE RACE

  THE GHOST AT THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAVELING TOMATOES

  THE SPY GAME

  THE DOG-GONE MYSTERY

  THE VAMPIRE MYSTERY

  SUPERSTAR WATCH

  THE SPY IN THE BLEACHERS

  THE AMAZING MYSTERY SHOW

  THE PUMPKIN HEAD MYSTERY

  THE CUPCAKE CAPER

  THE CLUE IN THE RECYCLING BIN

  MONKEY TROUBLE

  THE ZOMBIE PROJECT

  THE GREAT TURKEY HEIST

  THE GARDEN THIEF

  THE BOARDWALK MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE

  THE RETURN OF THE GRAVEYARD GHOST

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN SNOWBOARD

  THE MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT

  THE MYSTERY OF THE SOCCER SNITCH

  THE MYSTERY OF THE GRINNING GARGOYLE

  THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING POP IDOL

  THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN DINOSAUR BONES

  THE MYSTERY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE

  THE SLEEPY HOLLOW MYSTERY

  THE LEGEND OF THE IRISH CASTLE

  THE CELEBRITY CAT CAPER

  HIDDEN IN THE HAUNTED SCHOOL

  THE ELECTION DAY DILEMMA

  THE DOUGHNUT WHODUNIT

  THE ROBOT RANSOM

  THE LEGEND OF THE HOWLING WEREWOLF

  THE DAY OF THE DEAD MYSTERY

  THE HUNDRED-YEAR MYSTERY

  THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY

  SECRET ON THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR

  THE POWER DOWN MYSTERY

  MYSTERY AT CAMP SURVIVAL

  THE MYSTERY OF THE FORGOTTEN FAMILY

  THE SKELETON KEY MYSTERY

  SCIENCE FAIR SABOTAGE

  THE GREAT GREENFIELD BAKE-OFF

  THE BEEKEEPER MYSTERY

  THE MYSTERY IN THE MAGIC SHOP

  Copyright © 2022 by Albert Whitman & Company

  First published in the United States of America

  in 2022 by Albert Whitman & Company

  ISBN 978-0-8075-1012-4 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-0-8075-1013-1 (paperback)

  ISBN 978-0-8075-1014-8 (ebook)

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including pho
tocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® is a registered

  trademark of Albert Whitman & Company.

  Printed in the United States of America

  10987654321LB2625242322

  Illustrations by Anthony VanArsdale

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  Contents

  1. The Eagle Cam

  2. Feathered Friends

  3. A Mysterious Mix-Up

  4. Bad News

  5. Eagle Escape

  6. Questions and Answers

  7. Caught on Camera

  8. Clues in the Dark

  9. Lessons Learned

  10. Wild and Free

  The Eagle Cam

  “Look, the eagle is biting his feathers,” said six-year-old Benny Alden. He was in the boxcar watching a video livestream of a bald eagle. On-screen, the eagle held out one wing and ran its beak along its feathers.

  Benny’s sister Jessie leaned over her brother’s shoulder. “Birds do that to keep their feathers clean and smooth. It’s called preening.” Jessie was twelve. She liked learning new things and often took notes in the notebook she carried everywhere.

  “I love the eagle cam,” Benny said. “It’s like being at the nest.”

  Violet joined them. “I like it best when there are babies in the nest.”

  “It’s not baby season right now though,” Benny said. “Anyway, this camera is set up at a rescue center for raptors.” He’d recently learned that a raptor was a bird of prey, a large bird that ate meat. “The rescue center takes in birds that are hurt or sick.”

  “What happened to this eagle?” Violet asked. She was ten and loved to learn about animals.

  “His name is Pierce,” Benny said. “He got in a fight with another eagle. Then he got stuck in a tree with a stick through his wing. They had to call the fire department to bring a big ladder! A woman went up the ladder, wrapped Pierce in a blanket, and got him down. It was very exciting.” Benny was the youngest of the Alden siblings. Usually everyone else knew more than he did. He liked being able to share something he knew.

  Violet studied the video. “He looks okay now.”

  Benny nodded. “They had a vet…vet…”

  “Veterinarian,” Jessie said.

  “Right!” Benny grinned. “A vet-er-i-nar-i-an sewed up the wing. They’ll release Pierce in a couple weeks if he can fly again. If he can’t fly anymore, he has to stay at the Raptor Rehab Center forever.”

  Jessie looked at the chat window next to the video feed. “A lot of people are watching,” she said. “It says thirty-seven people are online right now.”

  “Pierce has a lot of fans,” Benny said. “He might be the most popular eagle in the whole world!”

  Jessie read the chat comments. Maybe she would learn something new about eagles. “I don’t understand the comments from the user named Sebhawk.” Jessie scrolled back in the chat. “Here’s the start, I think. Sebhawk says Pierce is in danger at the rescue center. But the rescue center is supposed to get Pierce out of danger.”

  Jessie scrolled down the comments. “Sebhawk doesn’t really say why they think Pierce is in danger. They just say Raptor Rehab needs better security.”

  “What kind of security would you need at a raptor center?” Violet asked.

  “Do you think they need security guards?” Benny laughed. “Maybe the birds should be the guards! Eagles have big beaks and claws. You could give Pierce a uniform, and he could walk around the rescue, keeping out bad guys.”

  “Their claws are called talons,” Jessie said. “You’re right. They are very strong and sharp. Birds of prey use their talons to grab food when they hunt. Then they use their sharp beaks to tear apart their food.”

  “Does the person in the chat think someone will steal one of the birds?” Violet asked. “Surely it would be too dangerous.”

  “I would not want to get that close to an eagle,” Jessie said. “The people who do the rescues must be very brave.” She read some more of the chat. “OwlFan seems as confused at Sebhawk’s comments as we are. It doesn’t sound like Sebhawk is worried about someone stealing birds. They say Raptor Rehab keeps the doors locked, and only the staff have keys. Sebhawk still thinks birds could get out.”

  “How can a bird get through a closed door?” Benny asked.

  “Can a bird pick a lock?” Violet giggled. “Maybe that’s another use for those big claws!”

  Jessie shrugged. “I don’t know. Sebhawk seems to know how the rescue center works though.” She scrolled through more of the chat. “Some of the other people in the chat are worried now. Some say Sebhawk is overreacting. The chatters must make up their names just for this chat. They use names like LovesRaptors, WildBirds, SoarsLikeAnEagle. They sure are fans of birds of prey.”

  “Me too,” Benny said. “I love watching them on the computer. It’s almost like having the birds right here in the room with you.”

  “But without getting too close to those sharp claws!” Violet said.

  The door to the boxcar opened. Fourteen-year-old Henry, the oldest of the siblings, came inside. The children’s dog, Watch, pranced beside him.

  “Time for dinner,” Henry said.

  “Dinner!” Benny jumped up. He glanced back at the computer. “Don’t do anything too exciting while I’m gone, Pierce.”

  The children stepped down onto the old stump outside the boxcar and headed inside. The boxcar was their favorite spot to hang out. At one time it had been their home.

  After their parents had died, the children ran away because they thought their grandfather would be mean. They’d found shelter in the boxcar and had many adventures while living there. Then they finally met their grandfather, and he turned out to be kind. He brought them to live with him and moved the boxcar to the backyard. Now they used it as their clubhouse to plan their next adventures.

  Over dinner, the children told Grandfather about Pierce the eagle.

  “He’s my friend now,” Benny said. “I hope his wing gets better.” Benny frowned. “Only then they’ll let him go. We won’t see him anymore.”

  “That’s for the best,” Henry said.

  Violet nodded. “Zoos and rescue centers do important work. They teach people about animals. They take care of sick and injured animals too. Sometimes they help a species survive. But it’s best when wild animals can stay wild.”

  “I know,” Benny said. “I want Pierce to fly again. Wouldn’t it be fun to fly way up in the air?”

  Grandfather chuckled. “I don’t know. I might be happier to stay on the ground and have someone bring me food.” He winked at their housekeeper, Mrs. McGregor.

  “You know that’s not true,” Jessie said. “You’re always going off to different places for work. You wouldn’t want to sit at home.”

  “Now that you mention it, I have another trip coming up,” Grandfather said. “And it just happens to be near the Raptor Rehab Center.”

  Henry sat up straighter. “You said your friend runs that place, right?” That was how the children found the raptor cams. They had started watching after Grandfather gave them the link to Raptor Rehab’s website.

  “That’s right,” Grandfather said. “My friend Carmen Fernandez is the director. I met her when she was doing some fundraising. They always need money to buy supplies and pay for the birds’ medical care. They depend on donations and volunteers.”

  “Volunteers?” Violet asked. “Do the volunteers get close to the birds? It would be fun to help, but Pierce’s talons look dangerous.”

  “I’m not sure,” Grandfather said. “They probably have a lot of jobs. Cleaning cages, keeping records. Would you like to go there and find out?”

  “Really?” Benny was so excited that he could hardly stay in his seat. “We ca
n go to the raptor place?”

  “I’ll call Carmen,” Grandfather said. “If she agrees, I can drop you off there when I go on my business trip. I know you’ll be a big help.”

  “We can do whatever she needs,” Henry said. “And maybe we’ll find out why some of these people in the chat are worried about security.”

  The children all nodded. They could learn more about raptors and how to care for them.

  “That sounds fantastic.” Jessie leaned down to pet Watch. The dog put his paws up on Jessie’s lap. She laughed and gently pushed him back down. “No begging at the table!”

  “Do you think Watch will get along with Pierce?” Benny asked.

  “I’m afraid Watch will have to stay home,” Grandfather said. “He might cause too much of a commotion among the birds.”

  “We’ll miss you,” Benny told the dog. “But I’ll get to meet Pierce in person! I can hardly wait.”

  Feathered Friends

  A few days later, the Aldens arrived in Silver City. Grandfather drove the children outside of town. The countryside was hilly, with grasslands and forests.

  Benny pressed his face against the window. “Is that the Raptor Rehab Center?”

  “Yes,” Grandfather said. “It’s a big place, isn’t it?”

  The center had a large main building and several smaller buildings. Grandfather parked by the large building. The children piled out of the car and looked around.

  “This is a nice place for raptors,” Jessie said. “When they’re healthy enough, they could fly away over the fields.”

  A woman came out. She had dark hair with streaks of white. Her smile was big and friendly as she greeted Grandfather.

  Grandfather introduced the children to her. “This is Carmen Fernandez. She’s been here since the center opened. You’ll stay with her this week.”

  “Thank you very much for letting us visit, Ms. Fernandez,” Henry said.

  “Please, call me Carmen,” she replied. “I know we’ll all be friends.”

  Grandfather looked at his watch. “Sorry I can’t stay and chat,” he said. “I’ve got an appointment to make. Have fun!” Everyone waved goodbye as Grandfather got back in his car and drove away.

  Carmen turned back to the children and pointed at the smaller buildings. “Most of the birds live in those buildings. We’ll look at them later. Let’s start in the main part of the center.”

  She led them into the large building. The front area had several desks. A woman sat at one, talking on the phone. A hallway led back to other rooms.

  “Most of the work gets done in here,” Carmen said. “Daisy is full-time staff. We also have volunteers to help answer the phones, clean up, and schedule tours. When we hear about an injured bird, we arrange to have it transported here.”