Red-tailed Hawk Fledgling “O1” Admitted To Wildlife Hospital After Apparent Illness

On the weekend of August 2, local birders Cindy and Karel Sedlacek alerted staff at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to concerns about the Red-tailed Hawk Cam’s fledgling “O1” after the bird appeared lethargic and unwell. Upon consultation with Cornell veterinarian Dr. Rolfe Radcliffe, it was recommended that O1 be brought to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital for treatment if a safe capture was possible.

On August 5, O1 was observed perching in a pine tree near Cornell University’s Barton Hall for over 24 hours, prompting a decision to attempt a rescue using a lift. That afternoon, a dedicated rescue team—including Dr. Radcliffe, the Sedlaceks, and staff from Cornell Facilities and Transportation—successfully retrieved O1 and transported the fledgling to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital for evaluation by Cornell veterinarians. As of August 6, O1 remains in critical condition from an unknown cause or illness.

We are deeply grateful to the rescue team for their rapid response and commitment to O1’s welfare and to the veterinarians and staff at the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital for their ongoing care for O1 and our local campus wildlife.

We will continue to update the cam community on this page as we learn more about O1’s condition.