From Runway Collision to Open Skies: The Remarkable Recovery of a Mercer County Hawk
During a brief period on Friday afternoon, the juvenile red-tailed hawk seemed perfectly content to stay where it was. Behind Strawberry Hill Mansion atop Baldpate Mountain in Hopewell Township, a small crowd gathered as the door of a transport crate swung open. Yet after two months of medical care and rehabilitation, the bird was in no apparent hurry to leave.
The Oct. 30 event concluded a remarkable healing process for a young hawk discovered severely hurt at Trenton-Mercer Airport on August 29. Its right wing had been broken into three pieces following a collision with an aircraft.
A Dramatic Rescue at Trenton-Mercer Airport
After an airplane departed and the control tower notified staff about what appeared to be a dead bird on the tarmac, Jeff Ritter, an airport operations and safety employee at Trenton-Mercer Airport, went to investigate. When Ritter arrived, he found the hawk alive but injured.
“He was basically sitting there on the runway,” Ritter recalled. He moved the bird to a grassy area away from airport operations and began trying to find someone who could help. Roughly two and a half hours later, staff from the Mercer County Wildlife Center arrived to assist.
By the time rescue workers reached the spot, the hawk had moved 30 to 40 feet away. Airport operations were briefly halted so the team could safely retrieve the animal. Subsequent examinations at the facility revealed a comminuted fracture of the humerus—the large bone in the bird’s upper wing—broken into three pieces.
Veterinarian Performs Two Surgeries to Repair Broken Wing
The hawk’s recovery depended in large part on Dr. Chandler Navara of Hopewell Veterinary Group, who volunteers her services at the Wildlife Center. Navara performed the initial surgery at her veterinary practice using a pinning technique to stabilize the broken wing. Forty-eight hours later, after part of the stabilization shifted, she carried out a second procedure at the Wildlife Center.
Treating a wild bird with such a complicated injury required specialized knowledge and ingenuity. Because the center does not have access to all the advanced equipment available at larger veterinary hospitals, Navara adapted materials and techniques. Taking advantage of the hollow structure of bird bones, she used the barrel of a syringe as part of the repair.
“That was from another doctor’s idea,” Navara said. “I’ve never done it, but let’s try it.”
Post-surgery, the bird was transferred to outdoor flight-conditioning pens, which featured a circular flight enclosure designed to help it regain stamina and develop the vigor needed for independent survival.
Collaboration Across County Agencies
Reptiles, mammals, birds, and endangered species are among the diverse group of sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife cared for by the Mercer County Wildlife Center. The center is operated by the Mercer County Park Commission.
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson pointed to the joint rescue effort as a prime illustration of regional cooperation. “Today’s release of a juvenile red-tailed hawk is a perfect example of what happens when we come together and take a whole-of-government approach to protecting our environment,” Benson stated. “Thanks to the team at Trenton-Mercer Airport and the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Center, this bird got a second chance to fly free here in Mercer County.”
When Navara opened the transport crate on Baldpate Mountain, the hawk initially remained inside as onlookers waited. When it finally emerged, it flew directly into a nearby tree. Navara said the relatively short flight was not surprising, as its muscles would still need time to regain their full strength.
“He’s gonna rest for a little bit,” Navara observed. “Stretch, rest, stretch, rest.”
