Why Remarkable Hudson Valley Hawk Is Headed To South America

A beautiful hawk that was found with injuries in the Hudson Valley is headed to South America, along with thousands of its friends.

The transition from summer to fall means that the habits of animals across the northern United States are changing. While "super" monarch butterflies fuel up for their incredible trip down to Mexico, a local hawk had a little hiccup when they tried to make a similar journey.

Broad-Winged Hawk Rescued in New Paltz, NY

"First-year broad-winged hawk, found on the SUNY-New Paltz campus 20 days ago", began a recent post from Wild Mountain Birds on Facebook (below). While the rescue organization shared that the hawk was suffering from multiple injuries, they also explained why it was so unhappy to be kept indoors for weeks.

Broad-Winged Hawks in the Hudson Valley Headed to South America

They revealed that the injuries the hawk suffered to their eye and leg could not have come at a worse time, as the broad-winged hawk, along with thousands of others of its species, was meant to begin their incredible journey to South America to spend the winter.

Watch the Broad-Winged Hawk Migration in New York

Broad-winged hawks are famous for migrating in large flocks, called "kettles". Wild Mountain Birds shared that just days before they released the injured hawk, bird enthusiasts witnessed more than 1,200 broad-winged hawks flying south over Minnewaska State Park.

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Hopefully, the rehabbed hawk will have no problem picking up where it left off, and continue its more-than 4,000 mile journey to South America escape the cold. May it also keep fond memories of New Paltz, NY, the place that helped them complete the trip.