Lost Harris’s hawk found in Udon Thani after nearly two years

UDON THANI — 7 November 2026, A tame Harris’s hawk has turned up at a resident’s home in Udon Thani after apparently going missing for nearly two years, prompting an appeal for its owner to come forward and reclaim the bird.

The hawk was found on 7 November after a resident’s dogs began barking unusually loudly at the back of his house in Muang Thong community, Mak Khaeng subdistrict, Muang district.

The homeowner, identified as Sorawee Phasuk, said he heard unusual bird calls at around 19:00 the previous evening. When he went to investigate, he spotted a large bird perched on a fence post. It did not appear frightened or attempt to fly away.

He tried offering it dog food in a bowl, but the bird instead flew onto his hand to eat. Surprised by its tame behaviour, he temporarily secured it for its safety and kept it in a dog cage overnight.

The following morning, Sorawee took photographs of the bird and searched online, identifying it as a Harris’s hawk, a bird of prey commonly kept and trained by falconry enthusiasts.

He also found a bell, an identification ring or tag bearing a code, and a tether attached to its leg, suggesting that the bird had been raised and trained by humans.

After sharing the photographs in local social media groups, he found old posts seeking a missing hawk between February and September 2024. The notices reportedly gave a location near a factory in Kumphawapi district, and the bird’s appearance and identifying details appeared to match.

Sorawee suspects the hawk may have been missing for almost two years. Its leg tag and equipment appeared faded and worn, while the bird itself looked rather thin.

He tried calling the telephone numbers listed in the missing-bird notices and contacting the factory mentioned in the posts, but nobody answered. He then contacted a local Udon Thani media page to help publicise the discovery and locate the owner.

Sorawee said the hawk was very comfortable around people and could be handled without showing aggression. He believes it is a trained bird that belongs to someone and hopes its rightful owner will contact him.

In the meantime, he is looking after the bird and trying to find suitable food. It showed little interest in cooked rice, so he plans to buy fresh chicken meat to help it regain its strength.

Anyone who recognises the Harris’s hawk or can provide evidence of ownership is asked to contact the Muang Udon Thani local media page to arrange its return.