21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Flying to Freedom

Hit by a car while having West Nile virus, this red-shouldered hawk makes a miracle recovery at the Bird Rescue Center and is shown receiving flight training. It’s vital to make sure that rescued birds are strong before release back into the wild.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Sebastopol, California, United States of America
Camera: ILCE-7M4
Copyright: © Joshua Asel