Downed red hawk taken to sanctuary

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- A red-tailed hawk that has been living on the roof of a New York housing project plummeted to the street -- and police suspect foul play.

The 9-month-old bird of prey fell 20 stories to the street from the Webster House project Tuesday and was then hit by a car, The New York Post reported Sunday.

When police arrived on the scene they found the injured bird dirty and hopping along the ground with what appeared to be a broken wing, the newspaper said. Residents said they suspected a person had been behind the fall.

With the help of bystanders, the hawk, nicknamed Radio Run, was wrestled into a cage and taken to New York Animal Care and Control. At the facility, the bird was diagnosed with a bruised wing and concussion, and then released to an animal sanctuary in Long Island, N.Y.

If Radio Run recovers sufficiently, it will be released into the wild.

Several other members of the federally protected red-hawk species also make their home in New York, including Pale Male and Lola, who make their home in Central Park.