UPPER EAST SIDE — A red-tailed hawk that flew into a glass window on East 69th Street and got stuck was rescued by police on Monday.
The tenants of 145 E. 69th St. called police at roughly 12:30 p.m. on Monday, when they noticed a hawk had smashed through the first glass pane in a double-paned window and couldn't get out, according to a 19th Precinct source.
Officers from the precinct's Emergency Services Unit and the Animal Care Center arrived on the scene and freed the bird.
19th Precinct on scene on E69 St where #RedTailHawk has flown into glass window @NYCACC notified & responding pic.twitter.com/BygHZV1bjT
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) June 13, 2016
"The hawk helped a lot by grabbing on the ESU's glove although it was scared," the source said. "The hardest part was getting the ESU officer's hand in and opening the window up."
Thank you @NYPDSpecialops for safely capturing the #RedTailHawk who is now ready to be evaluated @NYCACC #UES pic.twitter.com/7MENkP8ZXi
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) June 13, 2016
The bird was placed in a cage until the ACC could assess the bird, who was deemed uninjured.
The NYPD let the bird out slowly on the sidewalk to see if it could still take off, and sure enough it did.
#RedtailHawk evaluated by @NYCACC & it was determined to be uninjured & released on scene #UpperEastSide #UES #NYC pic.twitter.com/6AUr8daz0h
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) June 13, 2016
"It was an unusual incident for cops on the scene," the source said. "The ESU guys told me this doesn't happen often but they're happy with the good outcome."
The ACC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
