White House hawk captivates correspondents
The hawk. (Photo: Olivier Knox/Yahoo News)
No, it’s not Lindsey Graham or John McCain.
An actual hawk has been circling the White House this week, captivating correspondents like Yahoo News’ Olivier Knox, who spotted the bird Monday.
Hawk at the White House. No, no, no like - an *actual* hawk. pic.twitter.com/79CkOXhCnc
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) May 18, 2015
White House hawk is a fairly big bird. #actualhawk pic.twitter.com/mFUKtDPDqA
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) May 18, 2015
On Tuesday, the hawk was back, perched on a cornice on the northwest corner of the residence building.
The Hawk is back. Northwest corner of the residence section of the White House. pic.twitter.com/1U1zN4JjsP
— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) May 19, 2015
Some White House reporters captured the hawk being dive-bombed by smaller birds that were presumably perturbed to have a predator near their nests.
Birder ALERT. Hawk on northwest corner of Executive Mansion. Next photos will show other birds #NotAmused pic.twitter.com/zvpp6L1HDI
— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) May 19, 2015
Birder ALERT: A jay (I think) takes a run at WH Hawk on NW Corner of Executive Mansion. #Turf pic.twitter.com/EJdY8QWYfq
— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) May 19, 2015
At 10:45 #POTUS is having a bill signing, up to this point the most excitement at the White House was this hawk. pic.twitter.com/r28tumXn1T
— CSPAN Field Techs (@CSPANBen) May 19, 2015
It’s not the first time the White House grounds have been infiltrated by uninvited animals. In 2009, a pack of raccoons was spotted roaming the 18-acre President’s Park. (The Secret Service enlisted the National Park Service to trap the varmints.)
In 2013, a fox was reportedly living within the White House gates. And, thanks in part to the government shutdown, no one could catch it.
For the hawk’s sake, let’s hope its fate is different from that of the snowy owl that captivated Washington, D.C., last year before being hit by a Metrobus. The owl, however, did survive.
