1001 Spottswood Rd
Richmond, VA 23220
United States
After two months of expert care and rehabilitation, Red-tailed Hawk #25-1778 is ready to return to the wild!
This Red-tailed Hawk was rescued on May 26 after it was found grounded near downtown Richmond. Upon admission to the Center, veterinary staff discovered that the hawk was a fledgling with a previously healed pelvic fracture. The exact cause of the injury is unknown, though it’s possible the hawk fledged from the nest early and injured itself in the process.
Over the following weeks, the Center’s rehabilitation team provided daily care for the hawk, carefully monitoring the bird’s progress. By mid-June, the hawk began daily flight exercises in a large outdoor enclosure to build its flight strength and stamina. On July 31, the hawk was officially cleared for release!
The hawk will be returned to its home territory on Thursday, August 7 at 11:30 am in a public event hosted by Maymont. Staff from both the Wildlife Center and Maymont will give a brief educational presentation before opening the crate and watching the hawk take flight back to the wild.
Join us to witness this special moment! The release is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to RSVP with their name and the number of people in their party through this webform.
The event will take place rain or shine—though may be delayed or canceled if thunderstorms with lightning threaten visitor safety.
Directions: enter 1001 Spottswood Rd., Richmond, VA 23220 into your GPS to navigate to the park. The release will be hosted on the lawn between the Farm and The Robins Nature Center. Staff will be available to help direct guests.