Sad News, Red-tailed Hawk Fledgling “J1” Has Died

We are saddened to report that “J1,” the eldest Red-tailed Hawk fledgling from the 2020 Cornell Hawks cam season, has died. On the evening of July 16, a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was found deceased, likely from a fatal collision, near Cornell University’s Weill Hall. The body was first retrieved by a local animal control business and later identified by birders on the ground as “J1.”

The bird’s body has since been delivered to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Health Center where it will undergo diagnostics to determine cause of death. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.

This unfortunate news comes as this year’s fledglings continue to hone their hunting and flying skills around campus. Juvenile birds live fragile lives, and most will not survive past their first year. The hawks’ campus territory has also proven hazardous over the years. The Cornell Lab, campus facilities, and the local hawk cam community have made considerable efforts to reduce the risks posed to fledglings during this vital period, and we will continue to identify these risks and work to prevent them when possible.

We’d like to thank the Cornell Hawks cam community and our local birders on the ground for their support.