On a particularly dreary day last week, Palo Alto's finest feathered friends were met with a bit of a kerfuffle when a local "hawk" turned out to be a Peregrine Falcon, needing some assistance on the grounds of Stanford University. Typically, this would be a Santa Clara County animal control job. Still, due to their unavailability, Palo Alto Officer Macartney jumped in to help.

"What the heck!" Officer Macartney reportedly declared upon deciding to respond to the call, according to a Facebook post by the Palo Alto Animal Control. The mistaken identity of our feathered patient was quickly resolved, sending the injured bird off to the Peninsula Humane Society for some much-needed TLC. While a Peregrine Falcon in these parts isn't unheard of, it's a bit of a rare spectacle, their majestic prowess adding a touch of wild grace to the urban landscape.

While the new year comes with its own fireworks set, Palo Alto Animal Control wasn't shy about giving a quick PSA in their message, reminding pet owners to shield their critters from the loud and bright festivities.