Great Black Hawk To Be Memorialized As Bronze Statue

A few weeks back, I wrote about how the great black hawk that evidently flew the wrong way this winter, and ended up having to be euthanized due to the severity of frostbite on its feet. And also, how the hawk was going to be mounted and displayed at the Maine State Museum. Well now, the Friends of Deering Oaks Park in Portland are taking things a step further.

They've been in talks with some other local groups about privately funding a life-sized bronze statue of the bird. It will have to get city approval before it can be installed in the park, and if so would also likely include a descriptive plaque to go along with it, telling the bird's crazy story.

The hawk really sort captured the attention of folks around the state, because of all the folks involved in trying to keep the bird alive. He was discovered in Portland, but was then relocated to Avian Haven in Freedom to be treated for its serious frostbite. Sadly, the hawk's injuries were so severe, it had to be put down.

Speaking to the Portland Press Herald, Nate Swick from the American Birding Association said:

The joy that this individual bird brought to the North American birding community in 2018, to those who saw it and those of us who were just following along, is truly remarkable. The scope of its story is undeniably epic. There is no other bird that can top it as craziest vagrant of 2018.

And in the world of social media, it's so easy to fall in love with the story of a sad critter like this, that was just lost and presumably trying to find its way home. Well, I guess now we can say it has. Between the Maine State Museum, and this potential statue, this great black hawk will be remembered by folks around the state for years.