We said goodbye to our most senior member of the HawkWatch International (HWI) team this past weekend. Calurus, our Red-tailed Hawk Raptor Ambassador, was euthanized on March 8th, 2025, due to complications from congestive heart failure, just a few weeks shy of what we believe would have been, at minimum, his 35th birthday.
“We strive to provide the best quality of life for our Raptor Ambassadors,” said Melissa Halvorsen, Education and Outreach Director. “Sadly, that sometimes means making the decision to help them die without needless pain or struggle when it becomes clear that things are not going to get better. This was the case with Calurus. We felt the best way to honor his years of service was to let him go peacefully and quickly.”
Calurus spent 29 years with the HawkWatch International team, outlasting all our current and former staff’s tenures. He came to us in 1995 after colliding with a barbed wire fence in 1992. The damage from the accident required a partial wing amputation, leaving him unable to fly. Calurus found a new life at HWI, where he taught thousands of people about the importance of conservation through hundreds of outreach programs.
Described as a fan favorite by Executive Director Nikki Wayment, Calurus was a seasoned professional. “He was especially impactful because so many people are familiar with Red-tailed Hawks at a distance,” said Wayment, “but seeing one up close gave them a new appreciation for the species.” He also had a few endearing quirks, like a dislike for passing through doorways or stomping on his perches when he first returned to his mew.
“He’s the reason that I got involved with HawkWatch International,” shared Winston Brundige. After seeing Calurus at an education program, Winston was inspired to become an HWI donor and docent—allowing him to work alongside Calurus himself.
Red-tailed Hawks are an important part of our education program history, with our very first Raptor Ambassador, Galivan, being a member of the species. Calurus was the third Red-tailed Hawk Raptor Ambassador at HWI, following Halcon.
As our resident “old man,” Calurus retired from his role as a full-time ambassador a few years ago, only providing programs from our offices. Within the last year, he moved into our office building as he grew less tolerant of the cold or hot temperatures outside. We purposely placed his new enclosure by the window as one of his favorite pastimes is people-watching from his perch. It has been such a joy for our staff to watch the world go by alongside him.
We want to thank the staff, bird care volunteers, and education docents who have cared for and worked alongside Calurus to share a message of conservation over the last two decades. We also want to thank Dr. Lofgren and the incredible exotics team at Mountain West Vet for the expert guidance and support they have offered us as Calurus soared close to the title of the oldest known Red-tailed Hawk ever. We hope Calurus will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of the thousands of people he touched over his long life.
With such a legacy, we know that many of you also have fond memories of our feathered friend. We invite you to share them with us in the comments below so we can celebrate Calurus’ legacy together.
This blog was written by Sammy Riccio, HWI’s Communications Manager. You can learn more about Sammy here.
I cannot even fully express the love, respect, and appreciation I have for Calurus. I have loved raptors my entire life, and absolutely love red tails.
I remember the 1st time I met Calurus was 2 1/2 years ago around the same time my son was born. I was able to have a one on one encounter with him, Sammy, and Kirsten. I was taken back by Calurus when I 1st saw him and could feel his majestic spirit. It was very healing for me to spend time with him, in a time when I was going through a lot of pain and loss. I was honored to have that experience with him and will miss him dearly.
My son was able to see him in October this year and could not stop talking about him for several months. So cool to be able to feel connected with such an amazing animal.
Calurus and I are basically the exact same age as well, which was a very cool thing to share with him.
Thank you for everything Hawk watch, and for Calurus. He will always live on in my heart, my son’s, and my wife’s.