PORTLAND, Maine — A group is trying to raise money to immortalize a rare bird after the Great Black Hawk found itself a long way from its native Peru and died during Maine's winter.
The Great Black Hawk awed birdwatchers and drew large crowds when it was first spotted in Biddeford during the summer of 2018 and subsequently seemed to settle in Deering Oaks Park in Portland 80 days later.
Friends of Deering Oaks announced their campaign for the bronze sculpture on Wednesday, May 15. They have commissioned a Maine sculptor, David Smus, to create the life-size statue.
The bird lost its feet to frostbite during a January 2019 storm and was later euthanized despite efforts by Avian Haven to save it.
Once finished the sculpture will be set on a pedestal in Deering Oaks Park where the bird frequently was spotted. The proposal for the statue has been reviewed by Portland city staff, the Portland Public Art Committee, and the Historic Preservation Board and Portland Parks Commission.
Friends of Deering Oaks say the statue will be a reminder "of the importance of preserving urban habitats that sustain wildlife and inspire future stewards of our cherished green spaces."
In early 2018, a great black hawk was photographed in Texas and was potentially the first record of the bird being in the U.S. which could make the Maine sighting the species' second appearance in the nation.
The bird usually ranges from Mexico through Central America to Peru and as far south as northern Argentina.
Avian Haven, Maine Audubon Society and Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife will review the final model to make sure that it is ornithologically accurate.