Old B Square

Photo: Hawk perched on top of courthouse wishes Monroe County a Happy Earth Day

Early Friday afternoon, a red-tailed hawk perched for a minute on top of the Monroe County courthouse weathervane in downtown Bloomington.

hawk perched on top of the weather vane atop the weather vane with the fish on top of the Monroe County courthouse — Early Friday afternoon, a red-tailed hawk perched for a minute on top of the Monroe County courthouse.

It could have been surveying the work that’s being done to renovate the Alexander Memorial on the southeast corner of the square.

Or it might have been keeping watch over the brigade of bicyclists who were cycling north on Walnut with signs that read “ON STRIKE For Union Recognition”—organized by the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition.

Or the hawk might have chosen to sit atop the iconic weathervane, with its famous fish, as a kind of reminder: Downtown Bloomington is part of the natural world, too. Earth Day falls every year on April 22.

It might have been the stately bird’s way of wishing Monroe County a Happy Earth Day.

[Updated on the day after Earth Day (April 23, 2022): The hawk returned to its perch atop the courthouse on Saturday morning, when skies were not overcast. Photos below document the hawk’s post-Earth-Day visit.]

hawk with wings outstretched flying away from weather vane

three-frame animation of hawk sitting on tope of weather vane. First one is hawk just sitting. Second is hawk starting to extend its wings to take flight. Third is hawk in full flight.

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