“I immediately went into action.”
A summer walk in New York unexpectedly turned into a wildlife emergency after Nancy Nix spotted a hawk trapped high above the ground on a utility pole.
Nix had been walking near her home in July when she noticed another hawk flying overhead. While talking to her sister on the phone, she pulled out her camera to take a picture.
As she aimed upward, however, she realized a second bird was in serious trouble.
A Hawk Was Hanging From the Pole
The second hawk was not flying at all.
Instead, the bird was caught upside down near the top of an electrical pole, unable to free herself.
Realizing the hawk could be badly injured or exhausted, Nix quickly ended her phone call and began trying to find someone who could help.
Finding Help Wasn’t Easy
Nix contacted several local agencies but initially had difficulty reaching anyone.
Eventually, she connected with Bernie C., director of WNY Raptor and Wildlife Care.
Bernie was shopping for groceries when she learned about the trapped bird, but she immediately shifted her attention to organizing a rescue.
She contacted local authorities again and helped get the response moving.
A Cherry Picker Was Needed for the Rescue
Because the hawk was stranded so high above the ground, rescuers needed specialized equipment to reach her safely.
An animal control officer and a utility lineman arrived with a cherry picker truck.
They carefully raised themselves to the bird’s position, untangled her and brought her back down.
Once she was safely off the pole, the hawk was transported to Bernie for examination and rehabilitation.
The Bird Was Completely Exhausted
When Bernie first saw the hawk, she was deeply concerned.
The bird had been through an exhausting ordeal and was so weak that she could not even stand.
Bernie began treating her immediately, providing fluids to help with dehydration along with medication to manage her pain.
For the moment, all anyone could do was give the hawk a chance to rest and hope her condition improved.
By Morning, Everything Had Changed
The next day brought a remarkable surprise.
When Bernie checked on the bird, the hawk was standing.
She had also eaten her entire breakfast.
The dramatic improvement was an encouraging sign that the raptor was beginning to recover from the stress and injuries caused by being trapped.
She Still Needs Time to Heal
Although the hawk has made significant progress, she is not quite ready to return to the wild.
She remains in Bernie’s care while her injuries continue healing and her strength returns.
The rehabilitation team will monitor her closely until they are confident she can fly, hunt and survive independently again.
Her Family Is Waiting Nearby
Once the hawk has fully recovered, Bernie plans to release her in the same area where Nix originally spotted her.
Returning her there will give the bird the chance to reconnect with her family and familiar surroundings.
After spending time grounded during rehabilitation, the hope is that she will soon be soaring through the sky again.
One Photo Led to a Lifesaving Rescue
If Nix had not looked through her camera at exactly the right moment, she might never have noticed the struggling hawk above her.
Instead, her decision to stop, look closer and keep searching for help set an entire rescue effort in motion.
Thanks to her persistence, Bernie’s quick response and the work of local animal control and utility crews, the exhausted bird received the second chance she needed.
Now, all that remains is for her to finish healing before returning to the skies where she belongs.