Hawkeye is still on the loose, probably somewhere in the Flathead Valley. No, not the Marvel superhero, but a one-eyed rough-legged hawk that escaped from its enclosure in North Kalispell during the extreme winds over the weekend.

Kari Gabriel runs a bird rehabilitation program known as Montana Bird Lady out of her North Kalispell residence. The wildlife rehabilitator and Kalispell City Council member said the female hawk flew out of her kennel early Saturday morning after the strong wind overturned the kennel.

“I never had an issue before,” said Gabriel, who has been rehabilitating birds since 1991.

After being injured in 2014, Hawkeye was kept in a steel enclosure weighed down with sandbags, but even this heavy-duty kennel was no match for the extreme weather over the weekend. Gabriel said another bird in a cage 3 feet away was undisturbed when she discovered the upturned cage Saturday morning.

Gabriel and a group of volunteers have been searching for Hawkeye all across the valley, and they have a trained falconer on standby to trap the bird if she turns up.

If not, Gabriel said the hawk—who is blind in one eye and has a detached retina in the other—will have a trouble finding food in her handicapped state.

Hawkeye was severely injured in a vehicle crash near the Silver Bullet bar on Montana 206 in February 2014. “She suffered really bad head trauma,” Gabriel said. “We didn’t know if she’d make it.”

Afterward, she spent six weeks “belly down,” recuperating in a kennel. Gabriel took the bird to her own eye doctor to see if there was any hope of re-releasing the injured animal, but her vision was apparently too damaged.

Since recovering from her accident, Hawkeye has become Gabriel’s partner in educational programs she conducts throughout the valley for schools, service groups and events. Gabriel and Hawkeye attend about 25 programs per year and have presented to more than 10,000 people. But Gabriel said the bird is ill-equipped for life in the wild.

“She can never be released,” Gabriel explained. “She’s going to have a real hard time hunting. Finding food’s going to be a problem for her.”

Flathead Valley residents can help in the search for Hawkeye by reporting any confirmed sightings of the bird. She has a pale head, brown feathers, a white tail with a black stripe and a missing right eye. Her most identifying characteristic is the black bands, or jesses, on each of her legs, which Gabriel uses to keep her on a leash for educational programs. Hawkeye would be most easily spotted while flying, when her leg bands and distinctive tail are on display.

So far, Gabriel said a lot of people have reported hawk sightings, but no one has seen this specific bird. She stressed community members should be absolutely sure they have seen Hawkeye before the trapper is sent out.

Hawkeye escaped from the North Ridge subdivisions in North Kalispell, so Gabriel believes the hawk could be somewhere in the North Kalispell or West Valley areas. Rough-legged hawks prefer open country, but she said “It’s just a guess. She could be anywhere.”

“I worry about her crashing into something,” Gabriel added. Hawkeye has very poor vision and has not been out flying since coming into Gabriel’s care.

Gabriel said Hawkeye might be injured and end up in a backyard, and if they are able to recover her they should do so and then call her. But she said it’s unlikely anyone will be able to get a hold of the hawk.

“It’s odd that we haven’t had a single person see her,” she noted.

To report confirmed Hawkeye sightings, call Kari Gabriel at 406-249-7800.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.