Sugar House residents are on sky patrol this week as HawkWatch International scrambles to find Stax, a Harris's hawk that slipped free near the nonprofit's Salt Lake City offices. Staff and volunteers have been out since the bird was last seen on Monday, sweeping nearby parks, rooftops, and treetops. The search has zeroed in on the 900 East and Simpson Avenue corridor, where neighbors say people have been keeping an extra eye on the skyline.
Stax is not a wild bird passing through town but one of HawkWatch's Raptor Ambassadors, a non-releasable Harris's hawk used in education programs. He was placed with the organization after suffering a leg injury, and, according to HawkWatch International, he joined the education team under a federal permit and has since been part of outreach efforts around Utah. His official profile explains why staff care for him in captivity rather than attempting a release.
Stax was last spotted on Monday near 900 East and Simpson Avenue. He can be identified by leather anklets, brown jesses, and a small band on his right leg. Searchers report that he has already been heard calling at neighborhood dogs, and locals are being told to watch for “mobbing” behavior from smaller birds, which often signals a raptor is nearby. Anyone who thinks they have seen Stax is asked to call or text HawkWatch at (801) 648-9286 or email [email protected], as reported by TownLift.
How to report a sighting
If you spot a hawk that might be Stax, HawkWatch is clear on one thing: do not approach or try to capture him. Instead, they ask that you send detailed information about the exact location, how high he is perched, and photos if you can safely take them. The group’s contact page lists its headquarters at 2240 South 900 East, along with a main office phone number, and the organization notes it is not a wildlife rehabilitation center, directing people to local rehabilitators for injured birds. For contact details, see HawkWatch International.
About Harris's hawks
Harris's hawks are native to the American Southwest and are known for being unusually social compared with other raptors, often hunting and perching in groups. That behavior, along with their size, can make them stand out in an urban setting. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology notes their bold chestnut markings, long tails, and preference for high perches, all of which could help neighbors pick Stax out of the crowd. Because these birds favor tall trees, utility poles, and other elevated lookouts, people scanning rooftops, parks, and tall shrubs in Sugar House may have a better chance of spotting him.
HawkWatch staff say the search is still underway, with volunteers and neighbors continuing to comb the Sugar House neighborhood for any sign of Stax. Anyone with a confirmed sighting or a clear photo is urged to share details using the reporting channels above, per TownLift.
