Tracy Aviary says goodbye to Odie, the 33-year-old Swainson’s hawk

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Odysseus, one of the oldest-recorded Swainson’s hawks under human care, passed away today. The hawk, often called “Odie,” was one of Tracy Aviary’s ambassador birds.

As an ambassador bird, Odie represented his species and came face-to-face with members of the community. He would participate in bird shows and help educate the public about the Swainson’s hawk, as well as conservation and migration of his species and other raptors.

In the wild, Swainson’s hawks have a life expectancy of roughly 20 years, according to Tracy Aviary. At an estimated 33 years old, Odie was one of the oldest-recorded hawks of his species under human care.

“His long life is a testimony to the care he received under the bird care team,” Tracy Aviary said in a statement.

The Aviary says he will be remembered for his “grumpy grandpa” personality and for charming everyone he met with his charisma. Tracy Aviary’s full statement on the loss of Odie is below.

Earlier today, we made the difficult decision to say good-bye to a beloved member of our flock, our ambassador Swainson’s Hawk, Odysseus (Odie). At an estimated 33 years of age, he was a valuable member of our Ambassador Bird program and a beloved member of our Aviary community.

With an estimated life expectancy of approximately 20 years in the wild, Odie was one of the oldest recorded Swainson’s Hawks under human care. His long life is a testimony to the care he received under the bird care team. Odie reached thousands of people of all ages educating them about raptor conservation and migration. Over the years his charismatic, “grumpy grandpa” personality charmed everyone he met. While left with a hawk shaped hole in our hearts, Odie’s legacy of inspiring guests to care about the individual as well as the species will live on.

– Tracy Aviary on Odysseus’ passing