Help name our new Harris hawk!

A 4-month-old Harris hawk at Zoo Atlanta needs a name, and children ages 13 and under have an opportunity to help through storytelling. The Name the Harris Hawk Contest encourages kids to write their own original stories, featuring a member of the species as the main character, for a chance to win four general admissions and an exclusive encounter with an ambassador bird at Zoo Atlanta.

To enter, children or their parents and guardians should email their stories to harrishawk@zooatlanta.org. Illustrations are encouraged but are not required. The winning story will be chosen by the Zoo’s Ambassador Animals Team, and the name of the winning story’s Harris hawk character will become the name of the bird, which is not yet visible to guests. Members and guests may have a chance to see the newly-named hawk up-close later this year in animal presentations at the World of Wild Theater.

The Name the Harris Hawk Contest opens Thursday, February 3, 2022, and story submissions will be accepted through Monday, February 21, 2022. The winning story and name will be announced on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Native to the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico, Harris hawks are known as the “wolves of the sky” for their habit of hunting in groups. While the species is not currently threatened in the wild, the hawks face habitat destruction, habitat disruption, and threats from power lines.

Visit zooatlanta.org/harrishawk for full contest details and more information about Harris hawks.