Red-Tail Hawk Stops Traffic on Fi-Di Street, Released at Central Park

FI-DI, NY — An Urban Park Ranger rescued a hurt red-tailed hawk from Hanover Square and released it back into the wild in Central Park last week, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation announced. The hawk crashed into buildings in the financial district and sustained a head injury, but was able to recover fairly quickly.

At about 2 p.m. Nov 27, the young female hawk stopped traffic on Hanover Square as she stood confused and injured, multiple news outlets report. The hawk flew into buildings and hit her head, but didn't experience any breaks or fractures.

NYPD had to block off the street to "secure the hawk," Gothamist reports. Sgt. Rob Mastrianni, an Urban Park Ranger, rescued the hawk from the street and put her in a carrier.

The hawk was brought to the Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation center on Long Island, where she spent a few days resting and recovering. This nonprofit provides professional care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.

Red-tailed hawks are found throughout the city all year long. Each spring, in each borough, around a dozen hawks begin nesting. A joyful frenzy broke out on the Upper East Side in 1991 when New Yorkers observed the first red-tailed hawk known to nest in NYC. The hawk, dubbed Pale Male, built a nest on top of a Fifth Avenue apartment and has since become an iconic New York resident. He even inspired the book "Red-Tails in Love."

Reports show the red-tailed hawk population has recently shot up in the city. Experts believe rat, mice and pigeon populations have grown, which are the main food sources for city hawks. Additionally, NYC parks have become cleaner in recent years, so there's more green space with denser tree canopies and cleaner water for hawks.

Mastrianni released the hawk in Central Park's East Meadow on Friday afternoon. The hawk happily flew away without any problems.

Photos by NYC Department of Parks & Recreation