Sad News, Red-tailed Hawk Fledgling “N1” Found Deceased After Suspected Illness

We are sad to report that a Red-tailed Hawk fledgling, likely N1 from the Cornell Hawks Cam, has been found dead of a suspected illness on Cornell University’s main campus.

After tracking N1 on July 24, local birders Cindy and Karel Sedlacek notified Cornell Lab of Ornithology staff that the fledgling was exhibiting abnormal behavior and seemed ill. Cornell veterinarian Dr. Rolfe Radcliffe was immediately consulted about the bird’s well-being. After observing N1, he noted lethargy, trouble standing, and weakness as signs of illness. Given these conditions, they determined the bird should be brought to the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital for treatment if it could be safely captured.

A team including Dr. Radcliffe, the Sedlaceks, and Cornell Facilities staff attempted to capture N1 on July 24, but the fledgling evaded these efforts and flew to an unknown location. Continued attempts were made to track and locate N1 on July 25, but the hawk was not found.

On the morning of July 26, N1 was found dead on the flat rooftop of Martha Van Rensselaer Hall. The bird’s remains were safely transported to the Swanson Wildlife Hospital for evaluation, and then will be submitted to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center for testing. We will continue to update this page with any results from the diagnostics.

Update: Diagnostics of N1’s remains determined the cause of death as West Nile Virus. Several cases of West Nile Virus are confirmed each year in New York state during the summer months, and corvid and raptor species are some of the most susceptible to dying from the disease. Read more about West Nile Virus in this fact sheet from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology would like to thank Karel and Cindy Sedlacek, Dr. Radcliffe, and Facilities staff for their extraordinary efforts, time, and expertise to track and seek treatment for N1.

Sadly for the Cornell Hawks Cam community, this event means both chicks from the 2024 season have failed to make it past the fledgling period. N1’s sibling N2 died from a window collision on campus on July 19. The loss of both siblings reminds us of the many challenges that young birds face navigating their first year out of the nest. We’re hoping for a more positive outcome for Big Red, Arthur, and their family in 2025.