Breathing problems claim life of bird burned in Sugar Grove plane crash

Phoenix, the badly burned red-tailed hawk rescued from a plane crash site in Sugar Grove, has died.

The hawk has been euthanized by Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center after she developed problems breathing.

Phoenix was found Jan. 23 by Kane County sheriff's deputies at the plane crash off Route 47 that claimed the lives of two Florida men.

Kane County Animal Control called Flint Creek.

Dawn Keller, founder and president of Flint Creek, suspected that the bird was asleep in a tree when the plane crashed, and was caught in a fireball witnesses reported.

Despite losing all her feathers, having skin burned off her feet, and burns to her eyelids, Phoenix made good progress, according to Keller.

"Phoenix was standing, eating solid food and was visual within two days of the crash. Barring complications, her prognosis for a full recovery and eventual release back to the wild was very good," Keller said in a prepared statement.

But the fire burned her mouth and trachea, and Phoenix developed respiratory complications that failed to respond to treatment.

Flint Creek Wildlife sees thousands of birds and mammals at its treatment centers in Barrington, Chicago and Itasca. "We've had animals that have been unconscious for several days that have made a full recovery. These many examples of survival and incredible will to live give testament to the fact that animals can survive significant injuries. We just wish Phoenix had been one of them," Keller said.

<div class="infoBox">

<h1>More Coverage</h1>

<div class="infoBoxContent">

<div class="infoArea">

<h2>Stories</h2>

<ul class="links">

<li><a href="/story/?id=354338">Hawk healing after Sugar Grove plane crash <span class="date">[01/28/10]</span></a></li>

</ul>

</div>

</div>

</div>