ASU’s hawks are not a new sight on campus, but on a cold Monday evening in January, public safety officers got an up-close view of one that had flown into a plate glass window of the Fine Arts Center. When Sgt. Chris Adcox answered the dispatcher’s call, he arrived at the FAC to find that a group of concerned students had found the bird lying lifeless on the ground and had placed it into a cardboard box. The large bird was still alive.
After speaking with a representative from the Department of Natural Resources, the Highland Avenue Animal Hospital was contacted and the injured bird was transported there where it remained overnight. The following day, officers were informed that the hawk had been up, eating, and was ready for release. That afternoon, Officer Monica Williams and Sgt. Adcox retrieved the bird (in its cardboard box) from the hospital and brought it back to campus.
With some coaxing, the hawk sprang from the box and flew into the Grove where it perched in a nearby tree. “The trees came alive with the sounds of dozens of squirrels announcing the return of the regal hunter. The hawk sat on the tree limb calmly, but vigilantly re-familiarizing himself with the area. After a few minutes, the bird spread his wings and silently took to the air,” says Sgt. Adcox.
Jan 28, 2010
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