Hawk pays visit to Jaskwhich Stadium

By Shellie Rodriguez, Staff Writer

Photographs by Shellie Rodriguez

 

 

 

 

Nikita the Hawk
Nikita the Hawk

Before the Sept. 7 Tremper vs. Indian Trail high school varsity football game, players lined the field of Charles Jaskwich Stadium to listen to the national anthem performed by Khaila Wilcoxson. At the end of the anthem, a live Hawk was to take the skies to kick off the game.

Due to a bad wind pattern over the field, Nikita the Hawk refused to fly, but she still actively watched the game as her home team soared in her place.

“This experience is new to her,” said Gary Cox, Nikita’s falconer. “She is used to educational exhibitions, so the noise of the field was new.”

Gary had trained Nikita for a year for educational shows for children. She was to fly on a tether and circle the field as the anthem drew to a close.

“Hawks are also used to colder weather,” Cox said.“She likes to fly more when it’s colder because she knows I will have food.”

Although the weather was slightly brisk, it was not the weather Nikita liked. The wind on the field blew downward, so she couldn’t get started off the push she was given to take flight. She made four attempts before Cox decided to bring her in.

On her perch, she shook herself a little and watched the players play the Trojans. Even though she didn’t fly, the live hawk really added a new level of “wow” to the game experience and gave fans something to talk about.