Video: Hawk in Midtown Draws a Sympathetic Crowd

If only the trapped rat had gotten this kind of attention from passers-by. Vimeo user "timmmyk" says he was walking to the subway yesterday evening when he "noticed a large group of concerned people standing around a sick hawk on top of a FedEx van on 48th St. between 5th/Madison. I was among a number of people who called 311 for animal control to rescue this beautiful majestic creature. As the bird flew to a higher perch on a UPS truck it glanced my right ear with its wing. Is that good luck?"

We think it may in fact be providential, Timmmy, unless the hawk had a communicable disease. New York Animal Care & Control tells us a supervisor was dispatched to the scene to rescue the hawk, but it flew away and may in fact have been healthy. Apparently, Animal Care & Control gets these kinds of calls about hawks "all the time" in midtown, where hawks are quite common and known to snatch up rats and even pigeons for food. We're assured there have not been any instances of hawks swooping down and taking away small children... at least, not yet. But they will take your lunch!

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By John Del Signore in News on October 28, 2009 3:52 PM

Comments [rss]

yojimbot

just spoke to Cathy Horvath and it appears the bird is sick, possibly with frounce. Anyone who sees the bird, please email raptorsnyc@googlegroups.com and we will come get it.

just saying

Is that a redtail hawk? If so, it has to be a juvenile because its tail hasn't turned red yet.

Perhaps the last few days of constant drenching rain have had an adverse effect on it.

just saying

This answered my question and also warns what can happen when a sick or injured hawk falls into the wrong hands.

http://citybirder.blogspot.com/2009/10/wildlife-rehabilitator-news.html

yojimbot

Anyone spotting an injured or at risk raptor is encouraged to email raptorsnyc@googlegroups.com

This is an email list of concerned naturalists and rehabbers throughout the tri-state area.

Regards,

Yojimbot

http://yojimbot.blogspot.com

sexisicilian

thanx; great pics they are so beautiful

felixthecat2

Happy ending!!! yeah, RIP sad rat.

Guest

Very cool! I'll be glad to see that hawk doing his natural born duty of eating rats, pigeons, and other small vermin of this city. If I'm not mistaken, hawks like the way cats taste too...